InfoGuides: Voting & Civic Engagement: Ways to Vote

Virginia: Mail-In Ballot

Apply Online to Vote by Mail
Once you're registered, you can apply here to receive an absentee (mail-in) ballot in the mail.
Apply by Mail, Email, or Fax for Your Absentee Ballot
Return this completed and signed form to your local registrar's office by mail, fax, or scanned attachment to an email.
Information for First-time Voters
If you have never voted, there are specific requirements to follow for absentee voting, which can be found at this site.
Track Your Ballot
Once you've sent back your absentee ballot by mail, you can track when it is received by your registrar using the above link.

Returning a Vote by Mail ballot, via mail

Follow all instructions that you receive with your ballot, including the requirements to place your ballot in the provided secrecy envelope.

Your ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your registrar by noon on the third day after the election.

Returning a Vote by Mail ballot in person

You may complete your and drop it off at any drop-off location in your county or city. There is a drop-off location at your local registrar's office, at every voter satellite office in your county or city, and on Election Day at each polling place. Your county or city may also offer additional locations where you can drop-off your ballot. If you drop off your absentee ballot, it MUST be returned in the sealed envelopes that are provided. Check here to find a site: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/early-voting-office-locations/

Changed your mind and want to vote in person instead?

You may bring your ballot (preferably unopened) to any early-voting site or your election day polling place to exchange your mail-in ballot for an in-person ballot. If you have lost your ballot, you may vote in person with a provisional ballot (that will be counted once it is confirmed that your mail-in ballot was not received).

Virginia: Early Voting in Person

Find an Early Voting Location
Each county and city have a registrar's office where anyone can vote early in-person. Some have additional satellite locations as well. You may vote at any site within your locality. Check this link to find yours.

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If you live on campus, it is Fairfax County, and if they live in Fairfax CITY - use that location. Sites like VOTE411.org will also give early voting locations once it gets closer to the election.
Early voting in VIrginia starts 45 days prior to election day and that in Fairfax County there are multiple satellite early voting locations

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

You do not have to have a reason or fill out an application to vote early.
At the registrar’s office or satellite voting location, you must provide your name and address and show an acceptable form of ID or sign an ID Confirmation Statement.
Accessible equipment and/or curbside voting is available upon request.

Virginia: Election Day in Person

Check here to see Upcoming Elections!

Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
If you are in line to vote by 7:00 p.m. you are entitled to cast a ballot.
You need to produce identification or sign an affirmation of your identity in order to cast a regular ballot. Mason ID is adequate identification.

Find your polling place
In Virginia, on the day of the election you must vote at your assigned polling place. Find out where that is at this link.

District of Columbia and Maryland

District of Columbia

BY MAIL: All registered voters will be mailed an absentee ballot. If your address has changed or you are at a different address: https://www.fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/States/district-of-columbia.pdf
- Ballots must be POSTMARKED by election day and RECEIVED by 7 days after the election
- Ballots may be delivered to a voting center or a drop off location by Election Day.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON VOTING https://www.dcboe.org/FAQS/Voter-Registration/
ELECTION DAY IN PERSON: You may vote at any voting center in DC

Maryland

BY MAIL: Request your mail-in ballot here: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineVoterRegistration/InstructionsStep1
- Ballot must be RECEIVED by election day.
- To drop ballots off by hand, go to one of the ballot drop-off locations listed under "How do I return my ballot?": https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/absentee.html
EARLY IN PERSON: https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/early_voting.html
- During early voting, you can vote at any early voting center in the jurisdiction where you live.
ELECTION DAY IN PERSON: https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/election_day_questions.html

Other States

Voting Help for Every State
Not in Virginia? American University has a comprehensive guide for the specifics on requesting a ballot in every state and DC.
State Voter Requirements
US Vote Foundation offers useful voter information including: Upcoming Election Dates and Deadlines, Eligibility Requirements, Identification Requirements, State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered? Where’s my Ballot?.

Students Living on George Mason’s Fairfax campus

You may vote on campus or utilize Fairfax County's mail-in/absentee voting or early voting options.

If you used to live on campus (in the spring) and are registered to vote on campus, you may vote on campus or request an absentee ballot--see the "Ways to Vote" tab. You may also choose to change your registration to your current home address. If you want to do this, you must re-register online, in-person, or by mail. See above to register in Virginia and see below to find out more about another state.