Last Updated 8/12/2026:
2026 General & Special Elections: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
In Virgnia, polls are open 6:00am - 7:00pm on Election Day. Anyone in line at 7pm will be allowed to vote.
On the ballot: U.S Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, proposed constitutional amendments, and local races.
Fairfax County Sample Ballots: fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/sample-ballots
STEP 1: REGISTER/VERIFY
Check your existing registration and confirm that you are registered at your current address, find your polling location, or update your registration online at elections.virginia.gov before Oct. 23, 2026.
Click here to visit the Virginia Citizen Portal to register, update, or check your status >
Click here to learn more about voter eligibility in Virginia >
Think you're ready to VOTE?!? Click here to see if you pass the quiz >
Qualifications for voter registration: US Citizen, resident of Virginia, and 18 years old on or before Election Day. Click here to learn more about voter eligibility in Virginia >
Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration: Oct. 23, 2026. Learn more: elections.virginia.gov/registration
- Nov. 3, 2026 General Election: The last day to register or update your registration to be eligible to vote is Oct. 23rd postmarked by mail or in person by 5:00 p.m., or online by 11:59 p.m.
- Voters may register through Election Day using same-day registration and vote using a provisional ballot. Click here to learn more about same-day voter registration and provisional ballots >
Paper Registration: Click here to access a printable PDF Virginia Voter Registration Application >
- Make sure to follow all instructions on your paper voter registration form and mail to the address provided.
- Download a PDF copy of the registration form (En Español) (Tiếng Việt) (한 국어)
Online Registration: You may submit your registration and absentee ballot requests online, only if you have a Virginia DMV record:
- If you have a Virginia driver’s license or a DMV-issued “Walkers ID,” you can register online. Go to: elections.virginia.gov and use the secured Citizen Portal. It takes about 2 minutes to register online, you will need your Virginia driver’s license number and your social security number.
- If you don’t have a Virginia driver’s license or a DMV-issued “Walkers ID,” go to elections.virginia.gov to fill in the registration form, print it, sign it, and send it to the Department of Elections by mail. Your registration form must be postmarked by the dates/times listed above.
Students living on Mason's Fairfax campus: You may register to vote from your campus address (see tab below for more info). You will need to change this voting address when you move.
When registering or updating your existing Virginia voter registration:
- Provide your current residence hall's physical building address (including your residence hall name and room number) as your RESIDENCE (Question #2) on the voter registration application, AND provide your Hub mailing address (4450 Rivanna River Way, PMB #, Fairfax, VA 22030) as your MAILING ADDRESS (Question #4) on the voter registration application.
Visit vote.gov and select your home state or territory to access local voter registration deadlines, forms, and information.
Make sure to find and follow all state-specific deadlines to ensure your registration is complete!
Virginia voters may register through Election Day and vote using a provisional ballot. Click here to learn more about same-day voter registration and provisional ballots >
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.
In 2022, Virginia’s General Assembly passed legislation that allows Commonwealth voters to register at any time, up to and including Election Day, and vote using a provisional ballot. Previously, registration was closed during the 21 days before an election.
Only students who reside at a Fairfax on-campus address may vote at the University Precinct located in Merten Hall on Election Day. All other Mason students and faculty must vote at their registered home precincts, either inside Fairfax County, within the Commonwealth, or in their home state.
When registering or updating your existing Virginia voter registration:
- Provide your current residence hall's physical building address (including your residence hall name and room number) as your RESIDENCE (Question #2) on the voter registration application, AND provide your Hub mailing address (4450 Rivanna River Way, PMB #, Fairfax, VA 22030) as your MAILING ADDRESS (Question #4) on the voter registration application.
Don't know the physical address of your residence hall? Click here to find it on the list >
Same-day voter registration: Students who live on the Fairfax campus but didn’t register by the deadline may utilize same-day registration and vote at Merten Hall on Election Day using a provisional ballot. Click here to learn more about same day voter registration and provisional ballots >
STEP 2: VOTE!
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 on Election Day!
Polls are open 6:00am - 7:00pm. Anyone in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Vote on Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, in Merten Hall (next to Panda Express).
ONLY students registered at their current Fairfax on-campus address may vote at the University Precinct located in Merten Hall on Election Day (see on-campus registration tab above for instructions). All other Fairfax County registered voters must vote at their home precincts.
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. Click here to learn more about acceptable voter ID in Virginia >
Photo ID is not necessary to vote. If you do not have a valid ID, you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying your identification.
In Virginia, the polls are open 6:00am - 7:00pm. Anyone in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Non-Virginia Voters: Click here to find your local polling place by selecting your home state >
Virginia Voters: Click here to find your local polling place in VA >
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. Click here to learn more about acceptable voter ID in Virginia >
Photo ID is not necessary to vote. If you do not have a valid ID, you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying your identification.
VOTE EARLY! Check your home county’s Office of Elections website for specific locations and times. Mason's Fairfax campus is located in Fairfax County.
IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING: In-person early voting in Virginia begins 45 days before Election Day.
- General Election Early Voting Period: Sept. 18 thru Oct. 31, 2026
Learn More: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/early-absentee or fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/early-voting
All general registrar offices in Virginia offer early voting. Some localities may offer early voting in additional locations.
Early in-person voting locations will be listed here as dates and times are confirmed: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/early-voting-office-locations
For all early voting and ballot dropbox information, contact your general registrar's office. Click here to look up your general registrar's office >
VOTE ABSENTEE BY MAIL: Beginning July 1, 2020, you do not need an excuse to vote absentee in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Learn more: fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/vote-by-mail or elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/early-absentee if you are a registered voter in Fairfax County.
The deadline to request an absentee mail-in ballot online is 5pm on October 23rd.
Request an absentee mail-in ballot securely online using the Citizen Portal: vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation
Find a paper form via the Virginia Board of Elections website: elections.virginia.gov/registration/voter-forms
For all early voting and ballot dropbox information, contact your general registrar's office. Click here to look up your general registrar's office >
If you are an absent military or overseas citizen eligible to vote in state and local elections, you may register to vote and submit an absentee ballot application electronically for a specific election or any elections up through the next year using the Virginia Department of Elections voter registration portal (elections.virginia.gov/citizen-portal) or the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP.gov).
Click here to download an Early Voting Guide prepared by the Fairfax County Board of Elections >
General Voting Information:
Make a plan to vote early in person, vote early by mail, or vote in person on Election Day at your designated polling location!
2026 General & Special Elections:
- Sept. 18: First day of early in-person voting. Click here to find your local registrar’s office >
- Oct. 23: Deadline to register to vote or verify an existing registration in Virginia. Click here to register or verify >
- Oct 23: Deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you. Click here to learn more about absentee voting >
- Oct. 31: Last day of in-person early voting. Click here to find early voting locations >
- Nov. 3: ELECTION DAY, polls open 6am-7pm in Virginia. Anyone in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Virginia Department of Elections: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/voter-rights
National Voting & Election Laws: usa.gov/voting-laws
American Civil Liberties Union: aclu.org/know-your-rights/voting-rights
League of Women Voters: lwv.org/voting-rights
Any person, regardless of their disability status, has the right to register to vote at any office or agency that provides such a service. A person with cognitive disabilities can be eligible to register and vote if not adjudicated mentally incapacitated by a court of law.
Learn more: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/accessible-voting
If you are an absent military or overseas citizen eligible to vote in state and local elections in Virginia, you may register to vote and submit an absentee ballot application electronically for a specific election or any elections up through the next year using the Virginia Department of Elections voter registration portal (elections.virginia.gov/citizen-portal) or the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP.gov).
Learn more about what's on your 2026 ballot in Virginia: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/candidate-list
Virginia Voter Registration Resources:
Access more information on early and absentee voting.
Access voter forms in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Korean.
Access current voter forms.
Access the most up to date information and FAQs from Fairfax County.
IMPORTANT NOTE for on-campus student voters in Fairfax:
ONLY students registered at their current Fairfax on-campus address may vote at the University Precinct located in Merten Hall on Election Day (see on-campus registration tab above for instructions).
All other Mason students and faculty must vote at their registered home precincts, either inside the county, within the Commonwealth or your home state. Click here to find your assigned polling place in VA >
Same-day voter registration: Students who live on the Fairfax campus but didn’t register by the deadline may utilize same-day registration and vote at Merten Hall on Election Day using a provisional ballot. Click here to learn more about same day voter registration and provisional ballots >
_____________________________________________________________
Disclaimer: This page is intended to provide important voting information for Mason students, but always refer to the official Virginia Department of Elections' website for the most accurate and up-to-date voter information and guidelines: elections.virginia.gov