How To Register To Vote In Virginia

by Anne Johnakin, Dartmouth Class of 2023

If you haven’t registered to vote in Virginia yet, it’s not too late! Whether you just moved here or have never registered before, the process is simple and you’ll be ready to vote in no time.

Even though registering to vote is easy, don’t put it off! Virginia does not offer same-day voter registration on Election Day. The last day you can register to vote in Virginia is Tuesday, October 13th.

To begin the registration process, go to the Citizen’s Portal. Here you can: check your registration status, register to vote, check your polling place, and apply for an absentee ballot.

In order to register online, you must meet the following conditions:

• Be 18 years or older (or will be 18 on or before the election you intend to vote in)
• Be a citizen of the US, and be a resident of VA
• Not currently convicted of a felony or deemed mentally incapacitated by a court of law
• Have a valid VA driver’s license or state ID

If you don’t meet these conditions, you can register using the PDF form found here. If you do not have the capability to print out this form, you can find forms at your local registrar’s office (you can locate your registrar here) Department of Motor Vehicles, or public libraries.

Note: You do not need to provide a driver’s license or state ID on the physical form, but you will need to bring an acceptable form of ID with you when you vote.

Once you fill out this application, you can drop it off at your local registrar’s office, which you can look up here, or to

Virginia Department of Elections

1100 Bank Street

Richmond, VA 23219

If you do meet the requirements needed to register online, you should follow the prompts and input the information on the online form.

Once you submit either a paper or online application, you should receive an information card or other correspondence that confirms your registration.

Here are some tips to make sure your registration successful:

• Fill in all the information on the application that applies to you
• Sign and the date application
• Submit it to the right address, either by dropping it off in person or by mail

If you have any questions, you can visit How to Register or contact your local registrar.

That’s it! You registered to vote! Congratulations on taking an important step in exercising your voice and making changes in our communities. Now, it’s time to make a plan for how you’re going to submit your vote this fall.

To find out more about your options, click here.