Virginia
Virginia accepts student IDs from post-high school institutions located in the United States. Student IDs from high schools located in Virginia are also accepted for voting. Your student ID can be expired up to 12 months.
1 Check ID Rules
Voting in Person
Virginia requests ID to vote in person. You can vote without an ID if you sign a form confirming your identity (called an ID Confirmation Statement).
Accepted IDs
You can show:
Ok if expired any amount of time
- Virginia driver’s license
Ok if expired up to 12 months
- Virginia state ID card
- Virginia Voter ID card
- US passport or passport card
- ID issued by US, Virginia, or local government
- Tribal identification issued by tribe recognized by Virginia
- Student ID issued by high school in Virginia
- Student ID issued by higher education institution in United States
- Military identification
- Employee ID
- Voter confirmation documents
- Current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document
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 absentee ballot in Virginia.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don’t have the right ID to vote in Virginia?
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.
Can I use a digital or mobile ID to vote in Virginia?
Do I need a “REAL ID” to vote in Virginia?
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.
2 Register
Virginia Voter Registration Requirements
You must register before you can vote in Virginia.
You are eligible to vote in Virginia if you meet all of the following requirements:
- You are a citizen of the United States.
- You are a resident of Virginia.
- You are at least 18 years of age on Election Day.
You cannot register to vote in Virginia if:
- You have been convicted of a felony and your civil rights have not been restored
- You are currently declared incapacitated by a court of law.
To register to vote:
- You must provide your driver’s license number or state ID number if you have one.
- If you do not have either of these IDs, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number (SSN).
- If you do not have a Social Security number, then leave that space blank on your registration form.
If don’t provide any of these numbers or the state can’t match the number your provide to official records, you will have to show an accepted form of ID the first time you vote.
- If you vote in person, present an accepted form of ID at the polls.
- If you vote by mail, provide a copy of an accepted form of ID with your absentee ballot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register and vote on the same day in Virginia?
Yes, Virginia allows you to register and vote on during the early voting period and Election Day.
Same-day registration is available at your general registrar’s office and satellite locations during early voting. On Election Day, you must go to the polling place for the precinct where you live.
You need to present an ID that is accepted for voting.
Virginia voters who register and vote on the same day must cast a provisional ballot. Your local Electoral Board will approve your registration and confirm your provisional ballot counts. You will be notified if your ballot isn’t counted.
The deadline to register online or by mail is 22 days before Election Day.
Can I register to vote in Virginia if I have been convicted of a crime?
Each state has its own laws about whether citizens with previous criminal convictions can vote.
To check your eligibility to register to vote in Virginia, use Restore Your Vote.
Can I register to vote in Virginia if I attend college in Virginia?
College students are allowed to vote using their Virginia school residence address. You can decide if you prefer to register in your home state or in Virginia if you attend school there. You may only be registered and vote in one location.
You can use a student ID to vote if it meets Virginia’s voter ID requirements.
Register to Vote in Virginia
Submit the form below to register in Virginia.
Don’t have a state-issued ID? VoteRiders is here to help!
3 Vote
Voting in Person
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 your polling place, you can vote a regular ballot by signing an ID Confirmation Statement affirming your identity.
A copy of your ID is not required when you vote by mail in Virginia.
Voting by Mail
Most voters in Virginia can vote absentee without an excuse.
You do not need to provide a copy of your ID to vote by absentee ballot in Virginia.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fix my Virginia mail ballot if it is rejected?
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.
