Same Day Registration & Provisional Ballot Information

In 2022, Virginia’s General Assembly passed legislation that allows Commonwealth voters to register at any time, up to and including Election Day. Prior to the new law going into effect, registration was closed 21 days before an election and there was no way to vote if you missed the deadline.

According to the Virginia Department of Elections, “same day registration refers to the ability to register to vote in-person and immediately vote a provisional ballot after the deadline to register and vote a non-provisional ballot has passed.”

Mason students who missed the Oct. 16th registration deadline but currently live on campus can utilize the new “same day registration” option to vote on-campus at Merten Hall on Election Day (Tuesday, November 7, 2023) using a provisional ballot. You will be asked to provide your on-campus residential address, so make sure to bring that information with you on Election Day.

On-campus resident addresses on voter registration applications for Mason students can be provided in two ways (both are correct):

• ADDRESS OPTION #1: Provide the Hub mailing address (4450 Rivanna River Way, PMB #, Fairfax, VA 22030) as the address for Question #2 on the voter registration application, AND provide your current residence hall name and room number under Question #4 on the voter registration application.
• ADDRESS OPTION #2: Provide your current residence hall’s physical building address for Question #2 on the voter registration application, AND provide the Hub mailing address (4450 Rivanna River Way, PMB #, Fairfax, VA 22030) as the mailing address under Question #4 on the voter registration application.

Click here to view examples of Address Option #1 & Address Option #2 >

Don’t know the physical address of your residence hall? Click here to find it on the list >

Reminder: Your Mason ID is an acceptable form of voter ID, either physical card or mobile format. However, a photo of your physical ID will not be accepted. If you forget your ID on Election Day, you will be asked to sign an ID statement affirming your identity.

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about same day registration and provisional ballots from the Virginia Department of Elections website:

What is a provisional ballot?

• • Provisional ballots are used by voters who do not appear on the list of registered
    voters at their polling location. Provisional ballots are not processed by a vote
    counting machine at the time of voting, but rather are subject to approval by the
    local electoral board prior to the ballot being counted.

What happens to my provisional ballot after I vote?

• • • The general registrar’s office for your locality will research your ballot to gather
      evidence about whether you are qualified and eligible to vote. The general
      registrar’s office will forward your ballot and the information gathered to the
      electoral board to review and approve or deny your ballot.

How will I know if my provisional ballot is counted?

• • After you vote, you will be given a notice with the date, time, and place where the local electoral board will make a decision regarding your provisional ballot. You are entitled to attend this meeting, but you are not required to attend in order for your ballot to be counted. If your registration application is approved and there are no other issues, your ballot will be counted. If your ballot is not counted, you will receive written notice from your general registrar.

Where do I same day register?

• • You may same day register at the office of your general registrar or satellite
    location during the early voting period. On Election Day, you must go to the
    polling place for the precinct in which you reside.

How do I find my polling place?

• • You can find this information by contacting the office of the general registrar for
    the locality in which you reside. You can find information about your general
    registrar’s office on the Department of Elections’ website at
    https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/PublicContactLookup

Still have questions? Always refer to the Virginia Department of Elections website for the latest and most accurate voter information: elections.virginia.gov

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Slider photo by: Mitchell Richtmyre/Fourth Estate