Virginia
1 Check ID Rules
IDs for Voting in Person
Virginia has three ways for voters to show who they are.
Option 1: Show an ID
Virginia accepts IDs with and without photos.
Your ID:
- Must have a name that matches the voter list. Small differences are OK.
- Can be expired (amount of time varies).
- Does not need a current address.
OK if expired for any amount of time:
- Virginia driver’s license
- Virginia state ID card
OK if expired up to 12 months:
- US passport or passport card
- Student ID issued by high school, college, or university in Virginia (official digital IDs are OK)
- Student photo ID issued by college or university in the United States (official digital IDs are OK)
- Tribal identification issued by a Tribe recognized by the state of Virginia
- Photo ID issued by your employer
Also accepted:
- Virginia Mobile ID (mID app on your phone)
- Military identification
- Virginia Voter ID card issued by the Department of Elections
- Voter confirmation documents
- Other ID issued by the United States government, the state of Virginia, or a local government in Virginia
Option 2: Show Document with Name and Address
Virginia also accepts the non-photo documents listed below.
Your document:
- Must have a name that matches the voter list. Small differences are OK.
- Must also have your address.
- Cannot be more than 12 months old.
- Can be presented physically or electronically. Copies are OK.
You can show:
- Utility bill (electric, gas, water, phone, internet)
- Bank statement
- Paycheck
- Government check
- Other government document
Option 3: Sign a Form
Don’t have an accepted ID? You can still vote!
What to do:
- Go to your voting location.
- Tell the election workers you do not have an accepted ID.
- Sign a form saying who you are (called an ID Confirmation Statement).
- Cast your ballot!
IDs for Voting by Mail
Any registered Virginia voter can request an absentee ballot. You don’t have to give a reason why you can’t vote in person
Requesting Your Ballot
You will be asked to provide an ID number if you request your ballot online.
Returning Your Ballot
Most voters do not need to include ID with their marked ballot. Some first-time voters may be required to provide identification. You will be notified if this applies to you.
Don’t forget to sign! Your signature on the ballot envelope will be compared against the one on file.
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.
