Register, Verify, and Make a Plan to VOTE!

By: Tiffany Boggs, Mason Votes Contributor

Students who live in official Mason residence halls and register at their Fairfax on-campus address can vote at Merten Hall on Election Day. Photo by: Mitchell Richtmyre

On Tuesday, November 4th, Virginians will head to the polls to elect their next governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general, as well as members of the House of Delegates and local officials. But before you can cast a ballot in this consequential election, you need to make sure you are properly registered to vote and know your assigned polling place.

Arina van Breda, Assistant Director of Voter Registration for the League of Women Voters (LWV), pointed out the importance of voting in this off-year election when she spoke to Mason Votes earlier this month: “Virginia is going to be electing their governor, so this is a very important election. The eyes of America are on Virginia this year because it’s an important temperature check on what’s going on in the rest of the country. So, if you live or if you’re going to school here as a student—no matter what state you came from—you have an opportunity to make your voice heard about things that affect Mason students. For instance, the governor appoints the board of visitors to this university. This is a body that can make decisions that will affect student’s daily lives, and I feel that the point of a democracy is that you’ve got a chance to have your voice heard about issues that affect you.”

With that in mind, let’s answer some frequently asked questions to help prevent any confusion about how or where you can vote as a Mason student.

If I live in The Main or The Flats, can I vote on-campus at Merten Hall?

No. Neither apartment complexes are on Mason’s campus. so you must vote at your assigned polling place.

Make sure to look up the address of your assigned local polling place before you leave home on Election Day by visiting elections.virginia.gov.

According to van Breda, confusion from students living at The Main as to whether they can vote at the University precinct is understandable since the complex is so close to Mason’s Fairfax campus. Although The Main is just across the street from the Field House and other on-campus housing, it’s not part of the University precinct that votes at Merten Hall.

On Election Day, students living at The Main must vote at their assigned precinct polling place, which is Fairfax Villa Elementary School (10900 Santa Clara Dr, about a 15-minute walk). However, since The Main is located in Fairfax County, students can vote early at any Fairfax County early voting location.

The same is true for The Flats, an apartment complex popular among students located in Fairfax City. The polling place assigned to residents of The Flats is Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center (3740 Blenhein Blvd). Students can take the Gold 2 Cue bus for free!

If I live at the Townhouses on Chain Bridge Rd, can I vote at Merten Hall?

No. Even though the Townhouses on Chain Bridge Road are official Mason housing, students who live there cannot vote at the University precinct. Their assigned precinct is in the City of Fairfax and they will vote at Fairfax Presbyterian Church, (10723 Main St). Student can take the Gold 1 Cue bus for free!

Note: All students are encouraged to look up their assigned polling place, by visiting vote.elections.virginia.gov. When it ask to provide “locality,” use Fairfax County for The Main. For The Flats or the Townhouses on Chain Bridge Road, use City of Fairfax.

What address should I provide on my voter registration form?

Van Breda noted the importance of students knowing their street address in order to accurately register to vote: “The single biggest mistake” students make when registering is failing to check the box that says, “my residence address cannot receive mail” on their registration form.

The correct information to provide is your current residence hall’s physical building address (including room number) as your “Residence” (question #2 on the voter registration application), and your Hub mailbox address as your “Mailing Address” (question #4 on the voter registration application).

On Election Day, Mason Voter Ambassadors and the League of Women Voters provide a cheat sheet of residence hall addresses for students.

Don’t know the address of your residence hall? Click here to find it on the list >
Hub Mailing Address: 4450 Rivanna River Way, Your PMB #, Fairfax, VA 22030

If you are living on campus and you’re from a different county in Virginia, remember that you must return to your home precinct to vote unless you change your voter registration to your on-campus address. Update or verify your voter registration ahead of time, so you aren’t turned away at the University precinct on Election Day.

I’m a Mason student from another state. Can I still cast a ballot in VA?

Yes, but only if you change your registration to Virginia first! You can only be registered and vote in one state at a time, but you can easily change your registration whenever you move. You can register online in Virginia if you have a DMV-issued ID, otherwise fill out a paper voter registration form with one of the Mason Voting Ambassadors at an on-campus event or visit your local registrar’s office.

If you aren’t sure about your home state registration status, visit vote411.org or vote.org and follow the prompts to find your home state’s registration portal.

**I turn 18 before Election Day but after the registration deadline. Can I vote on November 4th?**

For first time voters needing to register, make sure you are a US citizen, reside in Virginia, and will turn 18 years old on or before Election Day. This year’s deadline to update and/or register is Oct. 24, 2025.

For more information on eligibility in VA, visit the Virginia Dept. of Elections website: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/how-to-register/

Still have questions?

Refer to our “Quick Guide to Voting as a Mason Student” to learn more about voting as a veteran, accessible voting, early voting, and more: http://masonvotes.gmu.edu/a-quick-guide-to-voting-as-a-mason-student/

Think you’re ready to VOTE?!?

Click here to see if you pass the quiz >

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Slider Photo Credit: Mitchell Richtmyre

This post was updated for accuracy on 10/3/2025.