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Voting in your state

Voting in Virginia, 2026

Every date and deadline for the November 3 general election, from registering to the final certificate, and who signs off on the result.

Right nowEarly voting is open in Virginia through Saturday, October 31.Election Day in 7 days

Every date, in order

  1. Fri, Sep 18 · passed
    Early voting begins
  2. Fri, Oct 23 · passed
    Last day for mail ballot applications
    Mail and online absentee applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday October 23, 2026. In-person applications must be received 3 days before Election Day.2
  3. Tue, Nov 3 · 7 days
    Election Day; Registration deadline
    The regular deadline is Friday October 23, 2026, and after that voters can register and vote the same day during early voting or at their polling place on Election Day.2
  4. Fri, Nov 6 · 10 days
    Mail ballots must arrive
    Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day count if received by noon on Friday November 6, 2026.2
  5. Fri, Nov 13 · 17 days
    County/Local canvass; County/Local certification
    Counties canvass within ten days of the election, by November 13.3
  6. Thu, Dec 3 · 37 days
    Deadline to contest the result
    A contest must be filed within 30 days after the election, by December 3, 2026, or within 10 days after a recount court order if a recount came first.4
  7. Mon, Dec 7 · 41 days
    State canvass; State certification
    The statewide canvass is due by Monday, December 7, 2026. For federal, statewide, General Assembly, and shared offices, the State Board ascertains November results by the first Monday in December. Va. Code § 24.2-679(A). It then issues certificates of election. Id. § 24.2-680.

Questions people ask about voting in Virginia

Q. When does early voting end in Virginia?

Early voting in the form of in-person absentee voting runs from Friday September 18 until 5 p.m. on Saturday October 31, 2026.

Q. When is the deadline to register to vote in Virginia?

The regular deadline is Friday October 23, 2026, and after that voters can register and vote the same day during early voting or at their polling place on Election Day.

Q. What is the last day to request a mail ballot in Virginia?

Mail and online absentee applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday October 23, 2026. In-person applications must be received 3 days before Election Day.

Q. When does my mail ballot have to arrive in Virginia?

Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day count if received by noon on Friday November 6, 2026.

Q. Who certifies the election in Virginia, and by when?

Each county and city canvasses its results the day after the election and sends them to the State Board of Elections. Local electoral boards must finish the canvass within 10 days of the election, by November 13, 2026. The State Board of Elections canvasses the results for state and federal offices, determines the winners and issues certificates of election. The state certifies the results by Monday, December 7, 2026. For federal, statewide, General Assembly, and shared offices, the State Board ascertains November results by the first Monday in December. Va. Code § 24.2-679(A). It then issues certificates of election. Id. § 24.2-680.

Q. What happens after the count in Virginia, and when is there a recount?

Within 10 days of certification, a losing candidate may ask for a recount when the margin is not more than one percent of the votes cast for the two leading candidates, and the recount is at state expense when the margin is not more than one half of one percent.

Q. How long is there to contest an election in Virginia?

A contest must be filed within 30 days after the election, by December 3, 2026, or within 10 days after a recount court order if a recount came first.

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Sources

  1. US Vote Foundation, Virginia Election Dates and Deadlines, https://www.usvotefoundation.org/virginia-election-dates-and-deadlines
  2. Vote.org, Virginia Election Center, https://www.vote.org/state/virginia/
  3. NCSL, Canvass Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/canvass-deadlines
  4. NCSL, Contested Election Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/contested-election-deadlines
  5. NASS, State Election Canvassing Timeframes and Recount Thresholds, https://www.nass.org/node/2455
  6. NCSL, Election Certification Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines

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