2020 Elections in Virginia
Voting in the time of COVID-19
As of April 28, 2020
Sixth Version
Please note: The one thing that is certain during the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic is that things could change.
Jane D. Newell
LWV Richmond Metro Area
The Richmond Metro Area League supports the City of Richmond, the Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico and the Town of Ashland.
The timeline in the table below offers the key dates for voters in Virginia as they stand today. With the COVID-19 pandemic raging, there are calls for changes to voting process and timing. Even the LWV-US has joined with partners in the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights to publicly call for changes (see LWV-US letter to Congress dated March 22, 2020). The management of elections is the responsibility of the states. Neither the Virginia Governor nor the Virginia State Board of Elections or the Department of Elections (ELECT) can change voting dates or significant process without the approval of the General Assembly or Courts. The Governor pushed back the primary by two weeks and requested that the May Town elections be postponed to November. The General Assembly rejected the May election postponement on April 22. The Governor then issued an executive order on April 24 pushing the May Town elections back two weeks, the maximum that he can do by law.
In Virginia, the Governor is holding Coronavirus Press Conferences every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He has fielded questions concerning elections with a response that the Department of Elections and the Secretary of Administration are discussing the concerns.
The homepage of the website of the Department of Elections has a statement that explains how absentee voting (vote by mail) can be accomplished during the pandemic. It states…
“The Virginia Department of Elections encourages voters to protect their health during COVID-19 outbreak. Voting absentee in the coming local May elections is strongly encouraged. Voters may choose reason "2A My disability or illness" for Absentee voting in the May 2020 elections due to COVID-19. Voters who choose the absentee option should do so as soon as possible so they can get their ballots in time to return them by mail by Election Day. “
Recent changes to election law to enable No Excuse Absentee Voting (NEAV) up to 45 days prior to an election go into effect with the November 2020 General Election. The State Board of Elections, on April 21, 2020, approved changes to the absentee ballot request form for the November election. The new form will be designated as the Vote by Mail form to reduce confusion about in-person advanced voting and mail-in voting. The form will not request a reason for the request and should be printed and ready for use by July 1, 2020.
Additional Reference Material provided…
- LWV-US Letter to Congress (March 22, 2020)
- Virginia Department of Elections 2020 Election Deadline Calendar
- Details of deadlines by all parties, candidates, and voters
- Includes legal references
- Official Lists of candidates on ballots in 2020
- Download spreadsheets at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/candidate-list/
Key Dates for Voters in 2020
| Date | Election | Action Needed | Detail |
| Monday, April 13, 2020 | May Town Elections | Registration | Deadline to register to vote or update registration for the May Town Elections. In the Richmond Metro Area, the only elections are for the Town of Ashland Town Council. |
| Tuesday, May 12, 2020 | May Town Elections | Request Vote by Mail ballot | Deadline to request absentee ballot (vote by mail) is 5:00pm on May 12. In the Richmond Metro Area, the only elections are for the Town of Ashland Town Council. |
| Tuesday, May 19, 2020 | May Town Elections | Vote | Election Day- Vote at polls or by mail – Deadline to have vote by mail ballots returned. In the Richmond Metro Area, the only elections are for the Town of Ashland Town Council. |
| Monday, May 26, 2020 | Congressional June Primary | Registration | Deadline to register to vote or update registration for the June Primary |
| Tuesday, June 16, 2020 | Congressional June Primary | Request Vote by Mail ballot | Deadline to request absentee ballot (vote by mail) is 5:00pm on June 16. |
| Tuesday, June 23, 2020 | Congressional June Primary | Vote | Election Day- Vote at polls or by mail - Deadline to have vote by mail ballots returned |
| Saturday, September 19, 2020 | November General Election | Vote - Early walk-in voting starts | Walk-in (no excuse absentee) voting begins 45 days prior to Election Day |
| Tuesday, October 13, 2020 | November General Election | Registration | Deadline to register to vote or update registration for the November General Election |
| Tuesday, October 27, 2020 | November General Election | Request Vote by Mail ballot | Deadline to request absentee (vote by mail) is 5:00pm on October 27th. |
| Saturday, October 31, 2020 | November General Election | Vote - Early walk-in voting ends | Walk-in (no excuse absentee) voting ends at 5:00pm |
| Tuesday, November 3, 2020 | November General Election | Vote | Election Day - Vote at the polls or have your mail in ballot returned |
| Friday, November 6, 2020 | November General Election | Provisional Ballot | Deadline to provide copy of photo ID via fax, email, mail, or in-person to General Registrar or local Electoral Board |