Voter registration deadline approaching next week

The deadline to apply to register to vote in Virginia for the Nov. 5 election is this coming Tuesday, Oct. 15. Virginia residents are encouraged to check their registration status and polling place on the State Board of Elections website at www.vote.virginia.gov, by contacting their local registrar’s office, or by contacting the State Board of Elections toll free at 1-800-552-9745.

Voter registration applications sent by mail must be postmarked no later than Oct. 15, 2013.  Applications are available at the local general registrar’s office, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and are downloadable on the Virginia State Board of Elections’ website.

Eligible citizens of the Commonwealth are able to submit a voter registration application or update their registration information online at www.vote.virginia.gov.  In order to complete the application process online, citizens must provide their Virginia DMV customer identifier number, which is displayed on DMV issued identification cards or driver’s licenses, in addition to the information normally required on an application.  Citizens who do not have a Virginia DMV customer identifier may still fill out the registration application online, but will be required to print and mail and postmark or return the completed application to the appropriate local voter registration office by Oct. 15.

To be eligible to register to vote in Virginia a person must:

• ·         Be a resident of Virginia
• ·         Be a U. S. Citizen
• ·         Be 18 years old (Any person who is 17 years old and will be 18 years of age on or beforeNovember 5th will be permitted to register in advance and also vote on Nov. 5)
• ·         Not be registered and plan to vote in another state
• ·         Not currently declared mentally incompetent by a court of law
• ·         If convicted of a felony, your right to vote must have been restored

All voter registration application submissions are subject to review and approval by the appropriate local general registrar.

To obtain a voter registration application or an application to vote absentee go to the Virginia State Board of Elections’ website at www.sbe.virginia.gov or call 1-800-552-9745.