Voting registration deadline looms. All you need to know

Bill Atkinson, Petersburg Progress-Index
Updated ·3 min read
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Virginia voters will be busy between now and Nov. 7, but that is just the starting point of what lies ahead the next 15 months in state politics.

All 140 seats in the Virginia General Assembly are on the November ballot, and both the Democrats and Republicans are pouring every financial and tangible resource at their disposal in the battle for legislative control in Richmond. Republicans hold a three-seat edge in the House of Delegates, plus there are five House races where the incumbent is not involved.

In the state Senate Democrats hold a five-seat edge. However, several veterans are either stepping down or have lost their primary bids, creating even more important contests that could make or break that party control.

And it does not stop there.

Virginia, which until 2008 had been a reliably Republican milepost in presidential elections, now finds itself one of 10 so-called “battleground” states in the 2024 congressional and presidential elections. Couple that with the “will-he-or-won't-he?” aura of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin entering the fray for the GOP presidential nomination, and you can understand why Virginia’s electoral boards have stocked up on aspirin, vitamins and Wheaties for the next year.

With all that in mind, here is a quick primer on what you need to know for both the state's 2023 mid-terms and the 2024 national-office elections:

2023: You can still register to vote, last day is Monday, Oct. 16

Virginia is in the midst of early voting for the Nov. 7 elections. The process began Sept. 22 and will continue until Nov. 4. If you want to vote either early or on Election Day, keep these dates in mind:

  • The deadline to either register to vote or to update your registration information is Oct. 16. That applies for both early and Election Day voting. Not sure if you're registered? You can check your registration status at the Virginia Department of elections at vote.elections.virginia.gov. Click here if you wish to take care of that online through the Virginia Department of Elections.

  • If you want a ballot mailed to you for the election, you must make that request to your local registrar’s office by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. Click here to access contact information for your local registrar.

  • Each registrar’s office will have a drop box where you can place your early ballot.

  • Registrar’s offices will open early for voting on Saturday, Oct. 28 and on Saturday, Nov. 4, which is the deadline to vote early.

  • The election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 7. Remember, if you voted early or by absentee ballot, you cannot vote again on Election Day.

  • Click here to find out who is on your local ballot.

2024

The first voting in Virginia next year will be March 5, when we pick who we would like to see head up the Democratic and Republican presidential tickets. More information on those processes will be coming later.

There will likely also be primaries June 18 for Democratic and Republican nominees for each of Virginia's 11 congressional districts. Those nominees will be voted on by Virginians Nov. 5, 2024.

Virginians will also elect one of their two senators next year. The incumbent, Democrat Tim Kaine of Richmond, has announced plans to seek re-election. Republicans will choose their nominee sometime in mid-2024.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Virginia voter registration deadline looms Oct. 16 for 2023 election