Election FAQ’s
Have election dates been changed? Which ones? Why?
Yes, some election dates were changed to push them beyond the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic to keep voters safe. The two-week delay of May Town and June Primary elections was ordered by the Governor as that is the most he can do without General Assembly approval. A recommendation to move the May Town elections to November was rejected by the state Senate.
Can the Governor change election dates?
Generally, not without approval of the General Assembly. In April, the Governor tried to postpone town primaries and elections because of COVID-19, but the GA rejected the postponement. The Governor then issued an executive order to push back May Town elections by two weeks, which was the maximum he could do by law.
What primary elections are coming up and when?
Primaries will be held on June 23rd.
Three candidates for US Senator will appear on the Republican Party primary ballot: Alissa Baldwin, Daniel Gade, and Thomas Speciale.
On the Democratic side, Senator Mark Warner is running uncontested, so there will be no primary election for a Democratic Party Candidate.
What Congressional district you live in determines whether your ballot will have a primary contest to vote in. If a candidate is running unopposed by anyone else in their party, there will be no primary ballot.
There are Democratic primaries in CDs 1,4,5 and 11 and Republican primaries in CDs 2 and 3.
The majority of the Richmond metro area is in CDs 4 and 7, Hanover is in CD 1. So voters in CD 4 and CD 1 must choose to vote EITHER in the Democratic CD primary OR the Republican Senate primary.
Candidates for the Senate and for CDs 1 and 4 are shown on Vote411. Answers to the League's questions will be posted as soon as they are received.
How can I find out my Congressional District?
A number of websites can help with that. The most reliable is the Department of Election site at https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation. Confirm your registration and scroll down to get the districts in which you vote.
Or enter your address below in our VOTE411.org widget.
What’s the difference between a primary election and a general election?
A primary is used to determine who will be on the ballot representing the major parties in the general election. In Virginia, the open primary allows voters to choose which party’s primary ballot they wish to cast. The general election is the final determination of who wins the federal, state, local election and may also have referendums for the voter to approve.
Does the Commonwealth of Virginia know what party I identify with?
Voters in Virginia do not register by party. In primary elections, they can choose either party's primary ballot. At the polling place, each voter is asked which ballot (Republican or Democrat) they want to fill out.
If there has been a Republican or Democratic primary prior to an election, the parties can buy the list of voters, learn that a person voted in the primary, and have a good idea about party identification. This is not possible when both parties have held primaries for the same office.
What about absentee voting?
For the upcoming primaries voters are encouraged to vote absentee, choosing reason “2A my disability or illness” as the reason. It is important to note the deadline by which you must apply for an absentee ballot.
Is it the same process for the November 2020 general election?
Recent changes to election law have enabled No Excuse Absentee Voting (NEAV) up to 45 days prior to an election. NEAV will be in effect for the November 2020 election. The form is called Vote by Mail. You will not have to provide a reason to vote by mail. The forms should be printed and ready for use by July 1, 2020.
Do I have to go into the registrar’s office to apply for an absentee ballot for the primary?
No, you can apply online.