FAQs • Roanoke County, VA • CivicEngage

How do I vote absentee?: If you qualify to vote absentee, there are three ways to obtain an absentee ballot application:
1. You can complete the application online through the Department of Elections.
2. You can request an application from our office by calling (540) 772-7500.
3. You can complete an application in our office.
If voting absentee by mail: Mail, fax or e-mail your completed application to our office.
If voting absentee in person: Bring your completed application to our office.

*Please note – if you register to vote in person, you must wait five days before you can vote absentee in person or have your ballot mailed to you.

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Elections

1. How do I register to vote?: You can register at our office or at the Division of Motor Vehicles Office. For more details, please visit our Voter Registration page.

2. What is the deadline for registering to vote?: For a general or primary election, the deadline is the 22nd day before the election. If registering by mail, your application must be postmarked on or before the deadline day. If registering online, your application must be completed by 11:59pm on the deadline day. If registering in person, our office is open until 5:00pm on the deadline day.

3. How do I know that I’m registered?: There are three ways to confirm you’re registered:
1. You can check online through the Department of Elections.
2. You can call the Department of Elections toll Free at (800) 552-9745.
3. You can contact our office at (540) 772-7500.

4. Do I have to register for each election?: No. As long as you do not move, your registration qualifies you to vote in all elections held in the precinct where you live.

No. Virginia is an open primary state which means that any qualified voter can vote in either party's primary election. Virginia does not have party registration in its voter registration process. In other words, citizens do not designate a political party affiliation when registering to vote in Virginia. The only restriction is when more than one political primary is held on the same day, known as a dual primary.

While Virginia election law stipulates that any qualified voter may vote in either political party's primary, no voter may vote in more than one political party's primary on the same Election Day.

6. What is required to vote?: You must be registered to vote. On Election Day, a valid photo identification is required to vote. Your voter card is no longer required to vote.

7. How do I report changes in my name or address?: There are two ways to report changes:
1. You can report online through the Department of Elections.
2. You can submit your change, in writing, to our office.
All changes must be made in writing and include a signature of authorization from the voter. Changes may not be made by anybody other than the voter.
Changes may not be made over the phone.

8. Am I eligible to vote?: To register, you must be a citizen of the United States of America who is at least 18 years of age by Election Day. You must not be currently judged by a circuit court to be mentally incompetent. If you have been convicted of a felony, your voting rights must be restored and you must provide proof of that restoration.

9. My name and/or address is incorrect. How do I get it corrected?: There are two ways to report corrections:
1. You can report online through the Department of Elections.
2. You can submit your correction, in writing, to our office.
All changes must be made in writing and include a signature of authorization from the voter. Corrections may not be made by anybody other than the voter.
Corrections may not be made over the phone.

10. I have multiple addresses. Which one do I use?: Register in the city or county that you consider to be your legal residence. This would be the place you consider to be your fixed, permanent home. It is illegal to be registered to vote in more than one locality in Virginia or more than one State.

11. Can my POA (Power of Attorney) sign my application for me?: No. If you are unable to sign due to a physical disability, you still must make a mark as a signature, confirming the application is yours. You may have assistance filling out the form. If assistance is provided, the name and address of the person who assisted you is required on the application.

12. Is my SSN (Social Security Number) required to apply for voter registration?: Yes. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution of Virginia (1971) requires your full social security number. If you do not provide your social security number, your voter registration application will be denied.

13. What if I don’t have a valid photo ID?: Please contact our office at (540) 772-7500 for information regarding the requirements to obtain a free photo ID. Please note that this ID is for voting purposes only, as it is written on the ID.

14. Where do I vote?: There are three ways to find your polling location:
1. Your voter registration card and/or letter provides you with the name and location of your polling place, as well as your federal, state and local election districts.
2. You can find your polling location online through the Department of Elections.
3. You can contact our office at (540) 772-7500.

15. What if I don’t have a valid photo ID on Election Day?: If you do not have the proper ID with you, you may vote a provisional ballot and present a copy of your ID to the Electoral Board by noon on the Friday after the Election.

16. I am in college away from home. How do I vote?: College students who still consider themselves residents of Roanoke County should register to vote there and not the city or county of where they attend school. If you are registered in Roanoke County, you may apply for an absentee ballot. Most colleges and universities offer absentee ballot information through their Student Services office. You may also apply online.

17. Can I vote early?: No. Virginia does not offer early voting.

18. Can I vote absentee?: To qualify for an absentee ballot, you must have a qualifying reason and supporting information.

19. When does absentee voting begin?: You can apply to vote absentee as early as one year before the election. Ballots are available 45 days before most elections. For specific dates, please contact our office at (540) 772-7500.

20. How do I vote absentee?: If you qualify to vote absentee, there are three ways to obtain an absentee ballot application:
1. You can complete the application online through the Department of Elections.
2. You can request an application from our office by calling (540) 772-7500.
3. You can complete an application in our office.
If voting absentee by mail: Mail, fax or e-mail your completed application to our office.
If voting absentee in person: Bring your completed application to our office.

*Please note – if you register to vote in person, you must wait five days before you can vote absentee in person or have your ballot mailed to you.

21. What do I need to bring to the polls?: You will need to bring a valid photo identification to vote.
If you do not have the proper ID with you, you may vote a provisional ballot and present a copy of your ID to the Electoral Board by noon on the Friday after the Election.

22. I am serving in the Uniformed Services and/or Overseas. How do I vote?

Federal law assigns U.S. citizens deployed or living overseas to a specific state based on where the voter lived before going overseas.

You may register to vote and request an absentee ballot using a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). You may fill out this application through the Federal Voting Assistance Program.

For questions, please contact one of the following departments:
1. Virginia Department of Elections toll Free at 1-800- 552-9745 – TTY: 771
2. Federal Voting Assistance Program toll Free at 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) – DSN: 425-1584.

23. When do the polls open and close?: All polling locations are open from 6:00am to 7:00pm on Election Day. You are entitled to vote if you are in line by 7:00pm on Election Day.

24. What’s on my ballot?: Ballots vary depending on your federal, state and location election districts. To find your specific sample ballot, you will need to provide your information online through the Department of Elections. There, you will be able to find your specific sample ballot.
You may also contact our office at (540) 772-7500.

25. Can my child watch me Vote?: Your minor child, 15 years of age or younger, may go with you into the voting booth.

26. Do I have to vote for Every Office or Question on the Ballot?: No, you do not have to vote for every question on the ballot.

27. I have a disability or mobility issues. How do I vote?

All polling locations are required to be accessible to persons with disabilities. This includes accessibility to the polling place and devices to make the voting machine accessible.

You may have assistance voting on Election Day: Anyone who assists you must do so according to your instructions, without trying to influence your vote. Your assistant is strictly prohibited from telling others how you voted. Please speak to an Officer of Election at your polling location if you wish to have assistance voting.

You may vote curbside on Election Day: If you have a physical disability, or you are 65 years or older, you may vote from your car. You will need to send someone inside the polling place to get an Officer of Election to assist with you with voting curbside.

You may vote absentee before Election Day: Absentee voting begins 45 days before most elections. You may want to consider voting absentee by mail or in person before Election Day to avoid standing in lines. For more information, please visit our Absentee Voting page.

28. I made a mistake on my ballot. What do I do?: If your ballot has not yet been placed in the official ballot container, simply ask an Officer of Election to void your spoiled ballot. Once spoiled, you will receive a new ballot.
*Once your ballot has been cast, it CANNOT be changed, even if you made a mistake.

29. How do I know that my vote is secure?: Our voting machines have been rigorously tested and certified to be accurate and secure both before being authorized for use in Virginia and prior to each election.

30. What is a Provisional Ballot?: Provisional ballots are used when:
- A person’s registration status cannot be verified
- A registered voter has not provided a valid photo identification
- A court orders the polls to stay open past their normal closing time
The decision of whether to count the provisional vote is made by our local Electoral Board in the days after the Election. If you cast a provisional ballot, you will be given notice of the time and place of the Electoral Board’s meeting, as well as a toll-free number to check the status of your ballot. You have the right to be present when the Electoral Board makes its decision about whether to count your provisional ballot.

31. I was not allowed to vote or I think I have witnessed an Election Law Violation: If you feel your voting rights have been violated, or that you may have witnessed an election law being broken, please contact the Department of Elections toll free at 1-800-552-9745.

32. How do I become an Officer of Election?: Please visit our “Working the Polls” page for more information.

33. Is there a residency requirement for voter registration?: No. There is no residency requirement for voter registration; however, you must be registered at least 21 days prior to an election to be eligible to vote in that election.

34. When do Elections take place?: Each year, general elections are held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. Town of Vinton elections are held every two years on the first Tuesday in May. If a primary election is called, it is held on the second Tuesday in June.

35. What is a Primary Election?: A primary election is an election in which a candidate is chosen to represent a political party for a particular office in a general election. The Democratic and Republican parties may nominate their candidate by either a primary election, by convention, or by mass meeting.

36. Can anyone vote in a Primary election?: If you are registered voter, you may vote in any primary that takes place within your election district. However, if a primary is held for both parties in the same election district, you may vote in only one party’s primary.

37. What if I move within the 21 days the books are closed?: You are eligible to return to your former precinct and vote if you have moved within Virginia. At that time, you must change your address and/or name to be eligible to vote in future elections. If you move out of state, you will be allowed to vote only in federal elections for President and Vice President.

38. How do I cast a write-in vote?: Write-in votes are permitted in all elections except primary elections.

Check the “Write-in” box on your ballot, then proceed to write the name of the candidate or your choice on the blank space provided.
*Do NOT write in the name of a candidate who already appears on the ballot, or your vote will NOT be counted.