Virginia

Registered voters in Virginia need to confirm their identity when they vote in person. There are several forms of identification you can use.

Most voters do not need a copy of their ID to vote by mail in Virginia.

Important Update

Starting in 2023: You no longer need to provide a witness signature on your absentee ballot. Instead, you can give the last four digits of your social security number and date of birth or your voter identification number.

Virginia ID Requirements for Voting In Person

ACCEPTABLE ID

You can present one of the following IDs to vote in person. It may be expired up to 12 months: 

  • Voter confirmation documents
  • Virginia driver’s license (acceptable even if expired)
  • Virginia DMV-issued photo ID
  • US passport
  • Employer-issued photo ID
  • Student ID issued by a high school in Virginia
  • Student ID issued by a school of higher education in the United States 
  • Other photo ID issued by the United States federal government, Virginia government, or local government
  • Virginia Voter ID card
  • Tribal photo ID
  • Original or copy of current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document showing your name and address

NOTE: If you do not have an acceptable ID, you can still vote a regular ballot by signing an ID statement confirming your identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Registered voters in Virginia must confirm their identity when they vote in person.

If you are a registered voter but do not present an acceptable ID at the polling place, you can vote a regular ballot by signing an ID Confirmation Statement affirming your identity.

Otherwise, you may cast a provisional ballot. If you vote a provisional ballot due to lack of ID, the ballot will be marked ID-ONLY.

In order for your ballot to be counted, a copy of your ID or signed ID Confirmation Statement must be delivered (via fax, email, in-person submission, or through USPS or commercial delivery service) to the electoral board by noon on the Friday following the election.

Get in touch with VoteRiders if you have questions or need free help securing ID.

You do not need a REAL ID to vote in Virginia.

Your driver’s license or state ID card will show a star in the upper corner if it meets REAL ID requirements under federal law.

If you need to renew your state photo ID or driver’s license (or apply for a new one) you must go through the REAL ID process.

Get in touch with VoteRiders if you have questions or need free help getting ID.

No. You must provide a physical form of ID to vote, and an image or photocopy of ID displayed on your electronic device is not allowed.

If you do not have an acceptable ID, you can still vote a regular ballot by signing an ID statement confirming your identity.

Virginia ID Requirements for Voting By Mail

Most voters in Virginia can vote absentee without an excuse.

The exception is if you registered to vote by mail AND this is your first time voting in your city or county. See the FAQ below for more info. 

You do not need to provide a copy of your ID to vote by mail in Virginia.

BUT: If it is your first time voting in a federal election in Virginia, please see the federal ID requirements for first-time voters.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Any registered Virginia voter can vote absentee, no excuse is required.

BUT:  If you mailed your voter registration application AND this is your first time voting in your city or county – you have to vote in person unless you have a qualifying exemption. 

Exemptions include:

  • You a student attending college/university outside of my city/county of residence in Virginia.
  • You have a disability or illness that prevents me from voting in person.
  • You are pregnant.
  • You are confined either awaiting trial or convicted of a misdemeanor.
  • You are active-duty merchant marine or in the armed forces, or the spouse or dependent of an active duty member.
  • You are temporarily residing outside of the United States for a non-employment related reason. (Voter Registration Office: review VA Code § 24.2-453)
  • You are temporarily residing outside of the United States for employment or a spouse or dependent living with a person temporarily residing outside of the United States for employment) 
  •  I have moved to another state less than 30 days before a presidential election and am requesting a ballot for the presidential and vice-presidential electors only (ballots for other offices/issues will not be sent).
  • I am 65 years of age or older.

In any case: If you vote by mail, your votes for the US President, US Senate, or US House of Representatives will be counted.

You do not need to provide ID when you vote by mail in Virginia.

Learn more about federal ID requirements for first-time voters.

As of 2023, you no longer need to provide a witness signature on your absentee ballot. Instead you can provide the last four digits of your social security number and date of birth or your voter identification number.

For any absentee ballot received by the Friday immediately before election day, if the general registrar finds that the required voter affirmation was not correctly or completely filled out, or that a procedure required by law for marking and returning ballots was not properly followed, the registrar must (1) notify you within three days in writing or by email of the error and (2) provide information to you on how to correct the issue so that your ballot may be counted. You are entitled to make the necessary corrections before noon on the third day after the election if you are found to be entitled to vote.