On Tuesday, November 6, there will be a statewide General Election in Virginia. Polls 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 after polls close on Election Day and included in the results reported that night.
The deadline to vote in-person absentee is Saturday, November 3, at 5 p.m. There will be two absentee voting locations open in Alexandria from Thursday, November 1, to Saturday.
Office of Voter Registration & Elections, 132 North Royal Street, Suite 100:
- Thursday, November 1, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday, November 2, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, November 3, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Beatley Library, 5005 Duke Street:
- Thursday, November 1, from 1 to 8 p.m.
- Friday, November 2, from 1 to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, November 3, from 10 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 (and your registration) at vote.elections.virginia.gov before you go. 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
Before Election Day, review the sample ballot for your precinct at alexandriava.gov/Elections to help you make informed choices at the voting booth. In Alexandria, the November 6 ballot includes:
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Alexandria Mayor
- Alexandria City Council
- Alexandria School Board
- Two proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution
If you are not sure which School Board District you live in, view the list of Precincts and Voting Districts. Also, be aware that political party identification does not appear on the ballot for local offices (for example, Mayor and City Council).
4. Bring Your Valid Photo ID
Virginia voters must show photo identification (ID) 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. You can 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 is 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 a photo ID when voting may still vote a provisional ballot and have until noon on Friday, November 9, 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 will not be able to vote.
- Traffic and parking around poll locations may be very busy, especially during peak commuter hours. If possible, avoid the lines and vote mid-day.
- If you are using public transportation, the Metro Trip Planner provides itineraries for trips on Metrorail, Metrobus, and DASH systems, including fare information and travel times.
- Check with area transportation providers to see if they are offering Election Day specials. For example, some ridesharing companies have announced discounts on rides to the polls.
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 and questions listed on the ballot.
During the weeks following the election, state and local Electoral Boards will canvass the results, make any necessary adjustments, and certify the official results.
For more information, contact Anna Leider, General Registrar, at [email protected] or 703.746.4050.
The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, email [email protected] or call 703.746.4050 or Virginia Relay 711.
