State voting rules for Virginia
Virginia voters abroad need to request a ballot each calendar year they want to vote in.
Click here to start your ballot request now.
Check below for your delivery methods and deadlines, and to find your local election office contact information.
Election Deadlines for Virginia Voters Abroad
Apr
21
Civilian
Mail or Email or Fax: Received by
Apr 14, 2026 Deadline for civilian overseas voters who "intend to return" OR, "return is uncertain" voters who provide employer information. Voters may register until April 14, but if they register after April 10, they may only vote in person
Active Duty Military or Family Member
Mail or Email or Fax: Received by
Apr 14, 2026 Voters may register until April 14, but if they register after April 10, they may only vote in person
Civilian - Return Is Uncertain
Not Eligible This Election
"Return uncertain" voters who do not provide employer information are not eligible to vote in Virginia state elections
Civilian - Never Lived in the US
Not Eligible This Election
| Election Day | Registration | Ballot Request | Ballot Return |
|---|---|---|---|
Virginia-State Special Apr 21 | Civilian Mail or Email or Fax: Apr 14, 2026 Received by Deadline for civilian overseas voters who "intend to return" OR, "return is uncertain" voters who provide employer information. Voters may register until April 14, but if they register after April 10, they may only vote in person Active Duty Military or Family Member Mail or Email or Fax: Apr 14, 2026 Received by Voters may register until April 14, but if they register after April 10, they may only vote in person Civilian - Return Is Uncertain Not Eligible This Election "Return uncertain" voters who do not provide employer information are not eligible to vote in Virginia state elections Civilian - Never Lived in the US Not Eligible This Election | Mail or Email or Fax: Apr 10, 2026, 5:00 PM Received by | Postal mail: Apr 21, 2026, 7:00 PM Postmarked by and received by April 24, 2026, at 12:00pm Virginia time |
Virginia-Primary Aug 4 | Mail or Email or Fax: Jul 24, 2026, 5:00 PM Received by | Mail or Email or Fax: Jul 24, 2025, 5:00 PM Received by | Postal mail: Aug 4, 2026 Postmarked by And received by August 7, 2026, 12:00pm |
How to Submit to Your Election Office
Registration: Email or Fax or Mail
Ballot Request: Email or Fax or Mail
Ballot Return: Mail
(Virginia no longer requires a witness signature on ballots)
Type of Ballot Based on Voter Category
If you choose “My Return is Uncertain,” you'll receive a ballot to vote in federal elections (US President, US Senate, and US House of Representatives).
And, you'll receive a ballot for Virginia state and local elections (Governor, State Legislature, School Board, etc) if you can provide the name of any employer for you or your spouse, or (if you are a dependent) your parent's employer.
There's a space to provide this information on your form.
"Intend to Return" means you have an intention to return in the future -- but you don't need a set date or specific plans.
If you choose “Intend to Return,” you will receive a ballot to vote in federal, state, and local elections. But this may be one of several factors used to determine whether you may be subject to Virginia state income tax.
If you choose “I've Never Lived in the US,” you will receive a ballot to vote in federal elections only (US President, US Senate, and US House of Representatives).
But you won't be eligible to vote in state and local elections (Governor, State Legislature, School Board, etc).
Find Your Election Office
Jurisdiction
Click in the box below and select your local election official from the list (may be county, city, town...)
Additional Resources
You may need to use a VPN if you cannot connect to your state's voter information pages. Some states only allow internet connections from US locations. For more information about how to use a VPN, please click here.