Mail-in ballot requests for 2021 state elections due Oct. 22

Voters wishing to cast a mail-in ballot in the Nov. 2 elections have until 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 22 to request a ballot be sent to them.

Voters may apply for a mail-in ballot online at the Department of Elections’ Citizen Portal at vote.elections.virginia.gov or by downloading a paper application at elections.virginia.gov/registration/voter-forms, filling it out, and submitting it to their local Voter Registration Office.

Forms are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean. Application forms may be submitted to the voter’s local Voter Registration Office by mail, fax, or email.

Contact information for your local voter registration office can be found at elections.virginia.gov/VRO. Voters may choose to receive a mail-in ballot for this November general election only or receive mail-in ballots automatically for every election in which they are eligible, until they request to be taken off the permanent absentee list.

If the voter is print disabled, they may request to receive an absentee ballot electronically to mark their ballot using an electronic ballot-marking tool. If this option is chosen for voting absentee, the ballot will be delivered by email and can be marked using screen reader assistive technology. More information about this option is available by contacting the local voter registration office or at elections.virginia.gov/accessible.

All are encouraged to mail their ballot requests well in advance of the Oct. 22 deadline to ensure it is received in time. Applications received by the local Voter Registration Office after 5 p.m. on Oct. 22 cannot be accepted.

The Virginia Department of Elections encourages voters to return their absentee ballot at their earliest convenience. A voter may return their absentee ballot by:

• Mailing the ballot via USPS or a commercial delivery service (such as FedEx or UPS.) All absentee ballots include pre-paid postage through the USPS (ballot must be postmarked by Election Day).
• Placing the ballot in a drop-off location listed on their county or city’s official website.
• Delivering the ballot to the Office of the General Registrar in the voter’s county or city.
• Dropping the ballot off at any polling place within their county or city on Election Day.

More information can be found about absentee and early voting for the Nov. 2 elections online at elections.virginia.gov/absentee.