Here’s What You Need to Know:

Virginia’s 2024 presidential primary is set for Super Tuesday, March 5th, joining 14 other states all voting on the same day.

The deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration in Virginia is Monday, February 12th, and there are a number of ways to cast your ballot:

• VOTE early in person at your local registrar’s office (don’t forget your ID!): January 19th through March 2nd

• VOTE by mail by requesting a ballot before 5pm on February 23rd: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/early-absentee

• VOTE in person on Election Day, Tuesday, March 5, 2024 from 6am-7pm (don’t forget your ID!). Find your polling place: vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation

 

Candidates on Virginia’s Republican primary ballot:

• Chris Christie

• Ryan L. Binkley

• Vivek Ramaswamy

• Donald J. Trump

• Ron D. DeSantis

• Nikki R. Haley

Candidates on Virginia’s Democratic primary ballot:

• Marianne Williamson

• Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

• Dean Benson Phillips

Note: In Virginia, voters do not register by political party, and you may only cast a ballot in one of the presidential primary elections.

Do your homework! Although some candidates have suspended their campaigns, they have not officially withdrawn from the campaign and will remain on the ballot. Make sure you know in advance who has dropped out and who you plan to vote for (and why!).

 

Don’t forget to bring ID when voting! Your George Mason University Student Photo ID is welcomed on Election Day. You may use your Mason issued electronic ID, however, you may not use a picture of your physical ID. Photo ID is not required to vote. If you do not have a valid ID, you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying your identification. 

Learn more about acceptable forms of voter ID: elections.virginia.gov/registration/voterid

Learn more about voting in Fairfax County: fairfaxcounty.gov/news/early-voting-begins-jan-19-presidential-primary-elections

Learn more about Accessible Voting: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/accessible-voting

Learn more about Absentee and Early Voting: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/early-absentee

Learn more about Voter Rights: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/voter-rights

Volunteer as a 2024 poll worker: elections.virginia.gov/officer-of-elections

Download the 2024 Voter Pocket Guide: elections.virginia.gov/voter-pocket-guide

Student Media Coverage of Virginia’s 2023 Elections

Watch the Full Broadcast on YouTube:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv6j5ItxOI8)

 

Individual Segments:

 

Make Your Voice Heard in 2023

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7th in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Early voting has concluded, but you can still vote in person on Election Day.

Polling places are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.  Anyone in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

 

Here are a few reminders and resources to help you prepare for a trip to the polls:

1. Find your assigned polling place: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/polling-place-lookup/
2. Remember to bring an acceptable form of voter ID to the polls. Your Mason ID will be accepted in either physical card or mobile format. However, a photo of your physical ID card will not be accepted. If you forget your ID on Election Day, you will be asked to sign an “ID Confirmation Statement” affirming your identity.
3. Read up on same day registration if you missed the traditional voter registration deadline. Mason students who missed the October 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 using a provisional ballot. You will be asked to provide your on-campus residential address and Hub mailing address (4450 Rivanna River Way, PMB #, Fairfax, VA 22030), so make sure to have that information handy on Election Day.
4. Review your sample ballot: fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/sample-ballots
5. If you need it, curbside voting and other assistance is available. Learn more about accessible voting: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/accessible-voting/#curbside
6. Check out the Virginia Department of Elections’ Voter FAQs if you have specific questions: elections.virginia.gov/registration/election-voter-faq/
7. If you requested to vote absentee, follow all instructions to properly vote your ballot and submit before the deadline. Absentee ballots must be returned in person on Election Day or postmarked by Tuesday, November 7th and received by Monday, November 13th at noon.

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

2023 Virginia Legislative Elections Guide

All 140 seats in Virginia’s legislature will be up for grabs in November. The Republicans currently control the House of Delegates 51-46; the Democrats control the Senate 22-18.

Your vote will determine Virginia’s future.

Here’s a look at what both parties have done (download a PDF or click on the image below to enlarge):

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guides.vote is an independent project hosted by nonprofit Youth Service America.

 

Join Student Government at Kiosk A in the Johnson Center Atrium every day this week to learn more about next Tuesday’s election.

From the organizers: “Come learn about what’s going to be on the ballot for this upcoming general election! Talk to professors and gain resources so that you can Vote Smart!”

VOTING REMINDER: Mason students who missed the Oct. 16th voter 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.

Learn More: masonvotes.gmu.edu/2023/10/17/forgot-to-register-by-oct-16th-you-can-still-vote/

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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Event Details:

Vote Smart!

Date: Monday, October 30 through Friday, Novermber 3, 2023

Time: 2pm-4pm

Location: Mon-Tues @ Wilkins Plaza; Wed-Fri @ JC Atrium kiosk

Mason360 Links: cglink.me/2d7/r2252567

Host: Student Government | Website | View More Events

Your Vote Counts Whether or Not You Use It

By: Madalyn Godfrey, Mason Votes Contributor

Election Day 2023 is coming up in just a few short weeks (Tuesday, November 7) and early voting is already underway in Virginia. However, just because this is an “off-year” election, doesn’t mean it is unimportant.

In the Braddock District (home to George Mason University) alone, there are 14 seats up for grabs that Mason students who live on campus have a chance to vote for on or before Election Day.

Off-year elections often face the lowest voter turnout among registered voters despite the need to fill numerous elected positions. According to Fairfax County’s Office of Elections, of the 79,564 active voters registered in 2019, less than 50% cast a ballot. This means that local representatives across the county had a seat for four years that was determined by less than half of the voting-aged population they were representing.

Looking at it from a student’s perspective, that’s like electing a group leader by a margin of 2-to-1 when only three of the five people in the group showed up to vote.

Is that fair? Yes, even if it may not seem so.

The reason for this can be simply put: a vote counts whether or not someone uses it. By passively abstaining from voting, a person leaves the decision up to those who do participate.

While this may not have a huge effect on the voting system as a whole, it can significantly impact the outcome of an election. A candidate can easily win or lose based on the number of abstaining votes. Unlike Presidential or Midterm elections, which have some of the highest voter turnout, local government elections have the most direct impact on members of a community.

According to The White House website, “[local government] generally take responsibility for parks and recreation services, police and fire departments, housing services, emergency medical services, municipal courts, transportation services and public works.”

In essence, local representatives determine all the resources provided in an area with voters aiding in how these resources are managed, funded, and delivered. Deciding to vote or not determines whether these resources meet the needs of a community, ultimately creating long-lasting impacts on how a community thrives. This is especially true for the Mason community.

On-campus students at Mason have the opportunity to decide who they want as their local representative. By registering for a ballot with their Hub mailing address and voting at Merten Hall, students can influence the change they want to see for campus and the surrounding area.

Change happens with every election, including off-year local elections, whether or not a person decides to cast a ballot. Don’t rely on others to make impactful long-lasting decisions. Instead, take the initiative and exercise your right to vote!

Learn more about what’s on the ballot in Fairfax: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/sample-ballots

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Madalyn Godfrey works as a Communication and Community Outreach Assistant for Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

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Slider photo by: Mimi Albano

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

Deadline to Register to Vote in Virginia is Monday, October 16, 2023.

Don’t Forget to Register or Verify:
elections.virginia.gov/registration

If you have already registered in Virginia:

Check your 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. 16, 2023.

If you need to register in Virginia:

Qualifications for voter registration: US Citizen, resident of Virginia, and 18 years old on or before November 7, 2023 (born on or before November 7, 2005).

Voter Registration Deadline: Monday, October 16, 2023 is the deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration. Learn more: elections.virginia.gov/registration

• NEW: Voters may register through Election Day, and vote using a provisional ballot. Click here to learn more about same day voter registration >

Online: 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, you can register online. Go to: elections.virginia.gov and use the secured citizen’s portal. It takes about 2 minutes to register online, you will need your Virginia driver’s license number. The last day to register or update your registration to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 7 General and Special Elections is Oct. 16 postmarked by mail or in person by 5:00 p.m., or online by 11:59 p.m.
• If you don’t have a Virginia driver’s license, 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 Oct.16, 2023.

Students living on the Mason’s Fairfax campus: You may register to vote from your campus address and provide your current resident hall name and dorm number. You will need to change this voting address when you move.

IMPORTANT NOTE for on-campus student voters in Fairfax:

ONLY students registered at their current Fairfax 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 the county, within the Commonwealth or your home state.

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.

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

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

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Disclaimer: This post 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/guidelines: elections.virginia.gov

Watch President Washington’s video message to the Mason community on National Voter Registration Day 2023 >

Patriots,

You have a voice in determining the future of your community, state and country. Better yet, you have a vote. Voting is fundamental to our democracy and to your future as an engaged citizen. 

That’s why each year I remind you about #NationalVoterRegistrationDay. That day is today. This is an opportunity for you to register to #Vote in the November 2023 elections.

The Virginia State Department of Elections now accepts the Mason Mobile ID, as well as a physical Mason ID, for voter identification.

Oct. 16 is the deadline in Virginia to register to vote, or to update an existing registration. 

If you register with your campus address, you can vote at a polling place in Merten Hall, on the north end of the Fairfax Campus. @mason_votes can help you learn more about registering and about key issues and election-related events happening around Mason.

— President Gregory Washington (@presidentgregorywashington)