Don’t Forget to VOTE on or Before Tuesday, November 5th!

By: Patrice Pannell, Mason Votes Contributor

Are you planning on voting in the upcoming November 5th election?

Well, if you are, here’s a quick overview of all the ways that you can make your voice heard with less than a week until the polls close!

If you have questions not answered here, always refer to the Virginia Department of Elections website for the most accurate and up-to-date voter information: elections.virginia.gov

Vote Early In Person

The first way you can vote in the upcoming election is through in person early voting. Even though early voting started in Virginia on September 20th, you can still take advantage of this option through Saturday, November 2nd.

Click here to learn more about early and absentee voting in VA >

Before you show up to vote early, check your registration status or call your local registrar’s office. You can find your registrar’s phone number here.

If you missed the voter registration deadline (Oct. 15th), you can still vote with “same day registration”! Virginia voters can register in person through Election Day and vote using a provisional ballot. Click here to learn more about same day voter registration and provisional ballots >

Here are a few things to know about early in-person voting:

• The last day to vote early in person is Saturday, November 2nd.
• All localities offer early voting and you do not have to have a reason or fill out an application to vote early.
• Voters are only allowed to vote early in the jurisdiction in which they are registered. Click here to find early in-person voting locations in your jurisdiction >
• At the early voting location, you must provide your name and address and show an acceptable form of ID or sign an ID Confirmation Statement. Click here to learn more about acceptable forms of ID >
• Your George Mason University Student Photo ID is welcomed on Election Day and for early in-person voting! Vote using either your physical Mason ID card OR electronic Mason Mobile ID. However, you may not vote using a photo of your physical ID card.
• Accessible equipment and/or curbside voting is available upon request.

Vote Early by Mail (Absentee)

The next option you have is to mail in your absentee ballot either to your local general registrar’s office or returning it to a drop-off location. Unfortunately, the deadline to request a mail-in ballot has passed (Oct. 25th).

Click here to learn more about early and absentee voting in VA >

Click here to find your local voter registration office >

Here are a few things to know about absentee voting by mail:

• You must complete and return your ballot to your local general registrar’s office by 7:00pm on Election Day (Tuesday, November 5th).
• Carefully review the instructions mailed with your ballot and double-check your ballot before mailing or utilizing the drop-off option.
• You may return your absentee ballot to a drop-off location. For more information on drop off locations in your locality, review the absentee instructions provided in your absentee ballot mailing.
• If you are returning your ballot by mail, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your general registrar’s office by noon on the third day following the election (in the event that that day is a holiday, the deadline is moved to the following business day).
• You may cast an “emergency absentee ballot” if you meet specific criteria set forth by law. Click here to learn more about emergency absentee voting >
• You do not need an excuse to vote absentee in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Vote In Person on Election Day

Last but definitely not least, you have the option to vote in person on Election Day (Tuesday, November 5th)!

Click here to learn more about casting a ballot on Election Day >

Virginia Voters: Click here to find your local polling place in VA >

Out-of-State Voters: Click here to find your local polling place by selecting your home state >

If you missed the voter registration deadline (Oct. 15th), you can still vote with “same day registration”! Virginia voters can register in-person through Election Day and vote using a provisional ballot. This applies to Mason students voting on- or off-campus. Click here to learn more about same day voter registration and provisional ballots >

Here are a few things to know about voting in person on Election Day:

• Polls are open 6:00am – 7:00pm on Election Day.
• Anyone still in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote!
• Your George Mason University Student Photo ID is welcomed on Election Day! Vote using either your physical Mason ID card OR electronic Mason Mobile ID. However, you may not vote using a photo of your physical ID card. Click here to learn more about acceptable forms of ID >
• Accessible voting options are available. Click here to learn more about accessible voting >
• Mason has its own University Precinct for on-campus residents registered at their Fairfax on-campus address only, so you don’t have to leave campus to cast your ballot!
  • ONLY students registered at their current Fairfax on-campus address may vote on Election Day at the University Precinct located in Merten Hall (next to Panda Express).
  • All other Fairfax County voters must vote at their home precincts. Click here to find your local polling place >

Now that you have all of the necessary information, you are ready for Election Day. So…

Get out there and VOTE on or before November 5th!

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Note: Most of the information outlined here only applies to Virginia voters. If you are voting out-of-state, visit vote.gov/guide-to-voting and search for your home state.