On Tuesday, June 12, Democratic and Republican primary elections will be held in the City of Alexandria. All regular polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Here are six ways Alexandria voters can prepare for Election Day.
1. Consider Absentee Voting
Don’t let a long commute, business trip, vacation, disability or illness put your right to vote at risk. Your absentee ballot will be counted on Election Day and included in the results reported that night.
The deadline to cast an absentee ballot in person is Saturday, June 9, at 5 p.m. The Alexandria Voter Registration Office (132 N. Royal St.) will be open for absentee voting during the following hours:
- Thursday, June 7 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday, June 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, June 9 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2. Find Your Polling Place
On Election Day, you must vote at your designated polling place, so please confirm its location before you go by entering your voter information on the Virginia Department of Elections website. You may also call the Voter Registration Office at 703.746.4050 or view the City’s current precinct map.
3. Know What’s on Your Ballot
In Alexandria, the June 12 Democratic Primary Election is to nominate one candidate for Alexandria Mayor and six candidates for Alexandria City Council; the Republican Primary Election is to nominate one candidate for the U.S. Senate.
Before Election Day, review the Democratic and Republican sample ballots at alexandriava.gov/Elections.
- Any person qualified to vote may request a ballot for either primary but may not vote in both primaries (Virginia Code 24.2-530).
- Election officials are not permitted to provide information about candidates. Please research your choices before arriving at the polling place.
4. Bring Your Valid Photo ID
Virginia voters mus
t show photo identification when voting in person. Examples of acceptable ID include a Virginia Driver’s License, U.S. Passport, Military ID, employee photo ID or student photo ID. Review the complete list of acceptable identification at the Virginia Department of Elections website.
- Voters who do not have acceptable ID may receive a free Voter Photo ID from Alexandria’s Voter Registration Office. The office will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Voters who do not bring an acceptable photo ID when voting may still vote a provisional ballot and have until noon on Friday, June 15, to deliver a copy of their photo ID to the Voter Registration Office or appear in-person to apply for a free Voter Photo ID Card.
5. Don’t Be Late
If you are planning to vote late in the day or after work, please remember that you must be in line at your polling place by 7 p.m., or you won’t be able to vote.
- Traffic and parking around poll locations may be very busy especially during peak commuter hours, and when schools are opening and closing. If possible, avoid the traffic and vote mid-day.
- If you are using public transportation, Metro’s Trip Planner provides itineraries for trips on Metrorail, Metrobus, and DASH systems including fare information and travel times.
6. View the Unofficial Results
After the polls close on Election Night, Alexandria election officials will begin posting unofficial results on the Virginia Department of Elections website. These results will show the total number of votes cast for each candidate listed on the ballot.
During the weeks following the election, state and local Electoral Boards will canvass the results and make them official.
Candidate Filing Deadlines
One final reminder: Independent candidates for Alexandria Mayor, City Council and School Board have until Tuesday, June 12, at 7 p.m. to file their candidacy papers (including petitions) with the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration and Elections. Candidate bulletins and all the filing forms are available on the Virginia Department of Elections website.
For more information, contact Anna Leider, General Registrar, at [email protected] or 703.746.4050.
