By Michael Hevener
What You Need to Know Before Casting Your Ballot on November 3rd
Virginia voters will make decisions on November 3rd that extend from Washington to the Virginia Constitution.
At the top of the ballot is the race for the United States Senate. Every Virginia voter will also choose a representative in one of the Commonwealth’s 11 congressional districts.
Then come three proposed amendments to the Constitution of Virginia.
Depending on where you live, additional local contests may also appear on your ballot.
The Commonwealth Ledger has examined the major statewide and congressional contests individually throughout this Election Guide. This article brings the essential information together in one place: what is on the ballot, when you can vote, how to make sure you are registered, and what you should know before casting your ballot.
IMPORTANT DATES
September 18th: In-person early voting begins.
October 23rd: Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration and cast a regular ballot.
October 23rd at 5 p.m.: Deadline for your local registrar to receive a request for an absentee ballot to be mailed to you.
October 31st at 5 p.m.: In-person early voting ends.
November 3rd: Election Day. Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.
November 6th at noon: Deadline for qualifying mailed absentee ballots postmarked on or before Election Day to be received.
ELECTION DAY: NOVEMBER 3rd
Virginia’s 2026 general election will be held Tuesday, November 3rd.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.
If you are in line at your polling place by 7 p.m., remain in line. You are still entitled to vote.
You must vote at the polling place assigned to the precinct in which you are registered unless you are using another legally available voting method.
Before Election Day, voters should verify their registration status and polling location rather than assuming they have remained unchanged.
WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT?
For Virginia voters, the November election includes several major decisions.
At the federal level:
United States Senate
United States House of Representatives
All 11 Virginia congressional districts have elections in 2026, but each voter participates only in the congressional race for the district in which he or she resides.
The ballot also contains three proposed amendments to Virginia’s Constitution:
Question 1: Reproductive Freedom
Question 2: Marriage
Question 3: Voting Rights Following a Felony Conviction
Additional local offices or ballot questions may appear depending on where a voter lives.
That makes it important to review your own ballot before voting.
THE UNITED STATES SENATE
Virginia voters will elect a United States senator to a six-year term.
The major-party contest is between Democratic incumbent Mark Warner and Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa.
The Commonwealth Ledger examines that race separately in Virginia’s Choice for U.S. Senate, including the candidates’ records, backgrounds, positions and arguments for another term or a change in representation.
Because the Senate contest is statewide, every Virginia voter will vote in the same U.S. Senate race.
VIRGINIA’S 11 CONGRESSIONAL RACES
Virginia is divided into 11 congressional districts.
Every voter will choose one candidate to represent his or her district in the United States House of Representatives.
Unlike the Senate contest, congressional candidates differ depending on where a voter lives.
The Commonwealth Ledger has examined all 11 races individually, including the candidates, political composition of each district and the issues likely to determine the outcome. Start with our overview of Virginia’s 11 congressional races to find each district analysis.
Voters who are uncertain of their congressional district should verify it before Election Day and review the candidates who will actually appear on their ballot.
THREE QUESTIONS THAT COULD CHANGE VIRGINIA’S CONSTITUTION
Virginia voters will also decide three proposed constitutional amendments.
These are not advisory questions.
Question 1 concerns reproductive freedom, including access to abortion.
Question 2 concerns the constitutional treatment of lawful marriage between two adults regardless of sex, gender or race.
Question 3 concerns restoration of voting rights following a felony conviction and an express constitutional right to vote.
Each amendment is a separate question.
A voter may vote YES or NO independently on each one.
If approved by a majority of voters voting on a question, that amendment will become part of Virginia’s Constitution effective January 1, 2027.
The Commonwealth Ledger is preparing separate examinations of all three amendments, including the existing constitutional and statutory framework, the language of each proposal, and arguments from supporters and opponents. Those analyses will be linked here when published.
Because constitutional language is more difficult to change than ordinary legislation, voters should read the actual amendment language rather than relying solely on campaign advertising or political summaries.
EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY
Virginians do not have to wait until November 3 to vote.
In-person early voting began Friday, September 18 and continues through Saturday, October 31. Check your locality’s voting hours, particularly on the final day.
Early voting is conducted through local general registrar offices and designated satellite locations. The Virginia Department of Elections provides official voting guidance and links to local registrar information.
Hours and locations can differ by locality. Statewide designated weekend early-voting dates are Sunday, October 18; Saturday, October 24; Sunday, October 25; and Saturday, October 31. Check your local registrar for exact hours and locations. Holiday schedules, including October 12, may also affect office hours.
Virginia does not require voters to provide an excuse for voting early.
A voter who prefers to cast a ballot before Election Day may use the Commonwealth’s early-voting process.
OCTOBER 23 IS AN IMPORTANT DEADLINE
Friday, October 23 is the deadline to register or update an existing registration in time to cast a regular ballot in the November election.
For online registration, the deadline is 11:59 p.m. October 23. In-person registration closes at 5 p.m.
October 23 at 5 p.m. is also the deadline for a local registrar to receive a request for an absentee ballot to be mailed to a voter.
Because registration information can become outdated after a move, name change or other change in circumstances, voters should check their records well before this deadline.
Waiting until Election Day can create unnecessary complications.
MISSED THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE?
Missing the October 23 regular-registration deadline does not necessarily mean you cannot vote.
Virginia permits same-day registration.
An otherwise qualified person may register in person after the regular registration deadline, including on Election Day.
There is an important difference, however.
A person using same-day registration casts a provisional ballot.
Election officials then review the registration and determine whether the voter was eligible. If the registration is validated and the voter is otherwise qualified, the provisional ballot can be counted.
For voters who are eligible to register before October 23, completing registration before the regular deadline remains the simpler approach.
VOTING BY MAIL
Virginia voters may also vote absentee by mail without providing an excuse.
The deadline for a local registrar to receive a request for a mailed absentee ballot for the November 3 election is October 23 at 5 p.m.
But a legal deadline should not be treated as a recommended mailing date.
A voter planning to vote by mail should request the ballot early enough to receive it, complete it properly and return it within the required timeframe.
An absentee ballot returned in person must be delivered by the close of polls on Election Day.
A qualifying absentee ballot returned by mail may be counted if it is postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the registrar by noon on Friday, November 6.
Carefully follow the instructions included with the absentee ballot.
CHECK YOUR VOTER INFORMATION
Before voting, confirm:
Your voter registration is active.
Your name and residential address are correct.
You know your assigned polling place.
You know your congressional district.
You know what will appear on your ballot.
Virginia’s Department of Elections provides official voter-registration and polling-place tools. For official ballot information, voting procedures, and links to local election offices, visit the Virginia Department of Elections website.
Checking those details takes only a few minutes and can prevent problems on Election Day.
KNOW WHAT IDENTIFICATION YOU NEED
Virginia voters voting in person are asked to present an acceptable form of identification.
Virginia recognizes multiple forms of identification.
A registered voter who does not have an acceptable form of identification may sign an ID Confirmation Statement affirming his or her identity.
A voter who neither presents acceptable identification nor signs the required confirmation statement may vote a provisional ballot and follow Virginia’s procedures for establishing eligibility.
Voters should review the current Department of Elections identification requirements before heading to the polls rather than relying on rules remembered from a previous election.
REVIEW YOUR BALLOT BEFORE YOU VOTE
One of the easiest ways to prepare is to review what will appear on your ballot before arriving at the polls.
That is particularly important in 2026.
The Senate and House races involve candidates for federal office.
The three constitutional amendments involve legal language with consequences that could extend well beyond the current election cycle.
And some voters will have additional local contests.
Reading those choices for the first time while standing at a voting machine is not the best way to make an informed decision.
Know what will be on your ballot before you arrive.
IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE
Virginia provides voting assistance and accessible voting options for voters who qualify for them.
Accessible voting equipment is available, and Virginia provides curbside voting for qualifying voters.
Voters who believe they may need assistance should review their options in advance or contact their local registrar.
The objective should be simple:
Every eligible Virginian who wants to vote should be able to cast a lawful ballot.
BEFORE YOU VOTE
Take a few minutes before Election Day to prepare.
Check your registration.
Confirm your polling place.
Review what will appear on your ballot.
Read the three constitutional amendments.
Learn who is running for Senate.
Know which congressional district you live in and who is running to represent it.
If you plan to vote early, confirm the early-voting location and hours in your locality.
If you plan to vote by mail, request and return your ballot early rather than waiting until the deadline.
And if you plan to vote on November 3, remember that Virginia’s polls are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.
THE LEDGER VIEW
Voting should be more than showing up and selecting names or answering ballot questions based on the last advertisement a voter saw.
An informed electorate is one of the foundations of representative government.
That is especially important when voters are being asked not only to elect representatives but to amend the Constitution that governs the Commonwealth.
The purpose of this Election Guide is not to pretend that The Commonwealth Ledger has no editorial perspective. Our recommendations and commentary are clearly identified throughout these pages.
But our first responsibility is to give readers enough information to examine the candidates, understand the questions and make their own decisions.
On November 3, the decisions belong to Virginia’s voters.
Know the candidates.
Read the amendments.
Understand your ballot.
And vote.
