VA Voter Registration Deadline Extended: Here's How to Register in Reston

The Virginia State Board of Elections has extended the deadline to register to vote in Virginia to Friday, according to a spokeswoman for New Virginia Majority, the group that took election officials to court this week after the online voter registration system crashed. That means if you live in Reston and haven't registered yet, you still have options.

The deadline previously was midnight Monday. Cameron Sasnett, registrar for the Fairfax County Elections Office, said Thursday the online system "took a nosedive." The system crash meant that some people didn't get a chance to register to vote by the deadline.

On Thursday morning, Judge Claude Hilton ruled in the group's favor in a federal court in Alexandria. The State Board of Elections will be notifying the Commonwealth's registrars to let them know to re-open voter registration for the next 36 hours until midnight Friday.

Here's what you can do to register if you live in Reston:

• Apply online by clicking here.
• Print, complete and mail a Virginia Voter Registration Application -- click here (PDF).
• Visit the Fairfax County Office of Elections at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323 by 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

Patch editor Mary Ann Barton contributed to this story

PHOTO: Shutterstock