Virginia Governor's Race 2017: Absentee Voting Opens

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The big 2016 elections have come and gone, but the upcoming Virginia governor's race is just as important, or arguably more so. In addition to the governor, voters will choose the lieutenant governor, attorney general and all state House seats. The statewide general election is Nov. 7, and residents can begin the voting process today.

For voters that are not able to vote in person on the Primary Election Day, absentee voting starts Sept. 22.

This includes voters who are:

• Working and commute for 11 or more hours, between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on June 13
• Physically unable to go to the polls because of an illness or disability
• Caregivers for disabled or ill family members
• First responders

See a full list of eligibility for absentee voting on the Virginia Department of Elections website.

For all other voters, the deadline to register for Election Day is quickly approaching. Here is a guide to the primary election process and the candidates:

Election Day

• Oct. 16: Voter registration deadline 11:59 p.m. online and 5 p.m. in person (or mail postmarked by that date).
• Nov. 7: Primary election: 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Find your voting location online through the Virginia Department of Elections' search tool. You can vote in the Democratic primary or the Republican primary, but not both. Photo identification is required by Virginia law.

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Absentee Voting

Sept. 22-Nov. 4: In-person absentee voting. Photo identification is required by Virginia law. Those without an acceptable photo ID can submit a provisional ballot and provide proof of ID by noon Nov. 13. Those voters can apply for a photo ID and receive a temporary identification document. Find your local registrar here. Voters can also apply for an absentee ballot online.

Oct. 31: Deadline for requesting an absentee ballot by mail.

Nov. 4: Deadline for requesting an absentee ballot in person.

Nov. 7: Deadline for your local registrar to receive the absentee ballot (5 p.m.). You can track your mailed absentee ballot here.

Candidates in the Virginia General Election

Governor

Ralph Northam (D)

Ed Gillespie (R)

Clifford Hyra (L)

Lieutenant Governor

Justin Fairfax (D)

Jill Vogel (R)

Attorney General

Mark Herring (D)

John Adams (R)

House of Delegates

Check your local sample ballot for candidates. (There are no state Senate elections this year.)

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