Alexandria Election Day Guide: 7 Things Voters Need to Know Before Heading to the Polls Tuesday

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for Virginia’s Dual Party Primary. Here’s who is running, what is on the ballot, where to vote and what to bring.

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 4, to choose party nominees in two federal races that will appear on Virginia’s Nov. 3 General Election ballot.

Democratic voters will choose their party’s nominee for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The candidates are Donald S. Beyer Jr., Lorena Thorne Bruner, Michael Christian Duffin, Adam M. Dunigan and Mo Seifeldein.

Republican voters will choose their party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate. The candidates are Bert Mizusawa, Kim Farington and David E. Williams.

Virginia does not register voters by political party. Qualified voters may request either the Democratic ballot or the Republican ballot at the polling place, but they may vote in only one of the two primaries.

Before heading out, here are seven things every Alexandria voter should know.

1. Polls Are Open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Polling places throughout Alexandria will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Anyone who is already in line at 7 p.m. will be permitted to vote. Voters arriving after 7 p.m. will not be allowed to join the line, so do not wait until the last minute.

2. Check Your Polling Place Before Leaving Home

Voters can confirm their registration status, polling location and ballot information through the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal.

Even longtime voters should check their polling place if they have recently moved or have not voted in several elections.

Alexandria precinct maps, accessibility information and additional local resources are available through the City of Alexandria Office of Voter Registration & Elections.

3. Review the Ballot Before You Vote

The city has posted both ballots on its official Sample Ballots page. Reviewing the ballot in advance can help voters become familiar with the candidates and spend less time making decisions inside the polling place.

Readers may also click any candidate’s name near the beginning of this story to visit that candidate’s campaign website.

4. You Must Choose One Party’s Ballot

Because Virginia does not register voters by political party, voters may choose which primary they want to participate in when they check in.

However, each voter may receive only one ballot. Alexandria voters may cast either the Democratic ballot for the 8th Congressional District race or the Republican ballot for the U.S. Senate race—not both.

5. Bring an Acceptable Form of Identification

Virginia accepts several forms of voter identification, including a Virginia driver’s license, U.S. passport, military ID, student ID and other approved documents. Voters can review the complete list on the Virginia Department of Elections’ voter identification page.

A voter who arrives without an acceptable ID may sign an ID Confirmation Statement and vote a regular ballot. A voter who does not sign the statement may cast a provisional ballot and will receive instructions explaining what must be submitted for the ballot to count.

6. Same-Day Registration Is Available

Eligible residents who missed Virginia’s voter registration deadline may still register and vote through same-day voter registration.

On Election Day, same-day registration must be completed at the polling place assigned to the voter’s current address. Same-day registrants cast provisional ballots, which are reviewed by the local electoral board before they are counted.

7. Returning a Mail Ballot? Meet the Deadline

Voters who received a mail ballot may return it to a ballot drop box at any Alexandria polling place between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The secure outdoor drop box in front of the Office of Voter Registration & Elections, 132 N. Royal St., will also remain available until 7 p.m. Tuesday. Ballots must be deposited before the deadline.

For additional information about voting, polling locations, precinct maps, accessibility assistance and election procedures, visit the Alexandria Elections website or call the Office of Voter Registration & Elections at 703-746-4050.

Editor’s Note: The Zebra has linked candidates’ names to official campaign websites that could be independently verified. All campaign and election-information links in this article were checked on Aug. 3, 2026.