Absentee ballot application now online for Virginia

At 10 a.m. today, Wednesday, Oct. 14, the Virginia Department of Elections (ELECT) launched its new Citizen Portal. This will allow Virginia voters to apply for an absentee ballot online.  The secure online system will take voters through the application process step by step and allow users to sign the application using their Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) credentials, building on the success of ELECT’s online voter registration system.

“My administration is committed to making it as easy as possible for all eligible Virginians to vote,” said Governor Terry McAuliffe.  “This new online citizen portal is great for democracy and shows that Virginia is leading the way to empower every qualified Virginian to make his or her voice heard in our elections.”

Voters can go to http://elections.virginia.gov/ to view their registration record and request an absentee ballot.  The system provides a secure means for voters to conduct paperless transactions with their local voter registration office.  Voters without DMV credentials can still utilize the system to print a completed absentee ballot application to mail to their local voter registration office.  The site will also let voters see what will be on their ballot for the Nov. 3 election and get other election related information.

“This is part of the Department of Elections’ ongoing efforts to promote and support accurate, fair, open and secure elections for the citizens of the Commonwealth,” said Edgardo Cortés, the Commissioner of Elections.

To be eligible for an absentee ballot, registered voters must meet one of 19 eligibility requirements.  The qualifying reasons are available through the citizen portal at http://elections.virginia.gov.

Absentee ballot applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27 in order to receive a ballot in the mail.  Applications may be submitted through the online citizen portal, or hand-delivered, mailed, faxed, or emailed to the voter’s general registrar’s office.  Once a voter receives his or her absentee ballot in the mail, the voter has until Nov. 3, 2015, at 7 p.m. to return the completed ballot to his or her voter registration office.

In-person absentee voting at local voter registration offices is available until Oct. 31, 2015, including the last two Saturdays before the election.  For more information about in-person absentee voting, including available office hours and locations, go to the Department of Elections’ website at http://elections.virginia.gov/  .

Voters can also find information about the upcoming election, including what’s on their ballot, by visiting the site or calling the Department of Elections toll-free at (800) 552-9745.