Voting Guide

Primary (non-presidential): Tuesday, June 18

Early Voting: Friday, September 20–Saturday, November 2

Deadline to register to vote (after this date you can vote with a provisional ballot and do same-day registration): Tuesday, October 15

Deadline to apply for an absentee ballot: Friday, October 25 by 5 p.m.

Election Day: Tuesday, November 5

Can I register to vote?

You can register to vote if you are:

• 16-years or older (but you must be 18 by Election Day to vote)
• A United States citizen

Can I register to vote in Virginia?

Yes, all eligible voters can choose to register in Virginia, with their campus address, or in their home state, with their home address. If you are already registered in your home state but want to vote on campus, then you can fill out a Virginia voter reigstration application and there will be a spot to indicate you are already registered in your home state. The Virginia Department of Elections will contact your home state to notify them of your new registration status. See instructions below on how to register in Virginia.

When is the deadline to register to vote in Virginia?

The deadline to register is October 15. However, Virginia has same-day voter registration and you can register on Election Day at a polling location and vote with a provisional ballet. If you can, try and register or update your registration by October 15.

How do I register in Virginia?

• Voters with Virginia Driver’s License can register online: Click here
• If you don’t have a Virginia driver’s license/state I.D., then you must fill out a paper form to register.
  • Print Forms:
    • Voter Registration Form (but make sure to read instructions in link below): Click here
      • Student Instructions for the registration form: Click here
  • Or pick one up in the CCE (Tyler Haynes Commons, 2nd floor, Suite 201)

Students in University Forest & Gateway Village Apartments

Some students residing in the University Forest Apartments and Gateway Village Apartments are located in Henrico County (also called Richmond).

• 100-1107 blocks of UFA are located in Henrico County
• 1200-2107 blocks of UFA are located in Richmond City
• 55, 56, 57, & 58 Gateway Village Apartments are located in Henrico County

You can find a list of all on-campus residential addresses here which includes the city/county.

 Common Mistakes When Filling Out Registration Form

• Not including dorm room # or using University address: Your residential address in section 2 must be your dorm address (if registering here), not your mailbox or the University’s address. Put your mailing address in section 4 of the form.
  • You can find a list of all on-campus residential addresses here.
• Missing contact info: Fill in your email and/or phone number in section 2 so that the CCE or Registrar’s Office can contact you if there is an issue with processing your form.
• Missing mailing address: Write your mailing address (UR mailbox) in section 4 in order to receive communication from the Registrar’s Office. 
• Missing current state registration: If you are currently registered to vote in another state, write in your state in section 5 of the form.
• Incomplete form: Remember to sign and date!

How do I register in my home state?

You can check your voter registration status here.

Use Vote.org to register in any state.

How can I check my voter registration status?

Click here to check your status.

Do I need to update my voter registration if I’ve moved dorms?

Yes! You can find a list of on-campus residential addresses here. 

CLICK HERE for the 2024 ballot guide.

Out-of-State voters can use Vote 411’s Voter’s Guide to find out who is on your ballot.

Early In-Person Voting

You do not have to have a reason or fill out an application to vote early. You can go vote at your local registrar’s office (see address below) from September 20 to November 2. A photo I.D. is not required to vote, however your student I.D. is an acceptable form of identification at the polls.

Where are the early voting polling places for Richmond City and Henrico County voters?

For Richmond City:
2134 West Laburnum Ave., 2nd Floor, Richmond, VA 23227

For Henrico County:
4305 E. Parham Rd. Admin Building Annex Room 105, Henrico, VA 23228

Free Uber Rides

At a later date we will share a form where you can sign-up to receive an Uber code to one of the early voting locations.The Uber code will provide you with two rides in one day, one to the polling place and one to return to campus. 

How can I vote absentee in my home state (if not Virginia)?

If you are registered in your home state but cannot make it back for in-person voting, you should request an absentee ballot as soon as possible. Deadlines to request an absentee ballot vary by state, use this website to check the important election deadlines, to register to vote, or request an absentee ballot in your state. 

If you need a stamped envelope to mail your absentee application or your absentee ballot, you can pick one up in the CCE which is in Tyler Haynes Commons, 2nd Floor, Suite 201.

Can I apply for an absentee ballot in Virginia?

All registered voters are eligible to vote by mail without providing a justification. All students registered in Virginia can vote using an absentee ballot.

Absentee ballots should be requested as far in advance as possible to allow time for the local elections office to mail the ballot to the voter and for the voter to complete and return the ballot.

How do I apply to vote absentee in Virginia?

Friday, October 25 (by 5 p.m.) is the last day that the registrar’s office will receive applications for an absentee ballot via online, fax, or mail.

• By Mail:
  • Download and complete the Absentee Ballot Application Form.
  • Return completed and signed form to your local registrar’s office, fax or scanned attachment.
• Online:
  • To apply online, you must have a Virginia Driver’s License. You can apply to ’Vote By Mail’ at this website.
• Drop-off:
  • Drop-off your completed application to the Registrar’s Office by the 5 p.m. deadline.

How do I submit my Virginia absentee ballot?

Fill in your ballot and return to your local registrar though these methods:

• Mail your ballot at the Post Office. Check the campus Post Office hours here. It must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your Registrar by noon on the third day after the election (Friday, November 2).
• Return your ballot to your local Registrar by 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 2, 2024.

Where is the Registrar’s Office?

• For Richmond City:
  • 2134 West Laburnum Ave., 2nd Floor, Richmond, VA 23227
• For Henrico County:
  • Nearest to Campus: 4305 E. Parham Rd. Admin Building Annex Room 105, Henrico, VA 23228
  • Further from Campus: 3820 Nine Mile Rd. Room 100, Henrico, VA 23223

Young adults make up a key demographic of those who vote in an election. Studying abroad should not take away your ability to vote, so here are some steps you can take to make sure that your voice is heard this election cycle.

1. U.S. citizens living outside of the U.S., can register to vote and request an absentee ballot by completing the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). But first you will want to check your state’s guidance on overseas absentee ballots. You can learn more at this website. Scroll down to the section titled "Looking for something specific? Select your state."
2. If you are voting as a Virginia resident, use your last Virginia residence as your voting residence. If you lived on campus, you can find a list of dorm addresses here. You can use the Federal Post Card Application to vote absentee.
3. Use this tool to find out who is on your ballot.

Learning more through the Federal Voting Assistance Program.

Where do I vote on Election Day?

• Dorm residents: Jepson Alumni Center at 442 Westhampton Way
• 1200-2107 UFA: Jepson Alumni Center at 442 Westhampton Way
• 100-1107 UFA: Tuckahoe Elementary School at 701 Forest Ave.
• 55, 56, 57, & 58 Gateway Village Apartments: Tuckahoe Elementary School at 701 Forest Ave.

You can check your polling place by clicking here.

What are the polling place hours?

Polling places open at 6 a.m. on Election Day. All voters in line by 7 p.m. are allowed to vote.

Do I need to show my identification to vote?

In Virginia, in-person voters do not need to show identification in order to vote.

Shuttle to Tuckahoe Elementary Polling Place

If your polling place is Tuckahoe Elementary, you will be able to sign up to receive an Uber code for Election Day. The Uber code will provide you with two rides on November 2: one to get to Tuckahoe Elementary and one to return to campus. This is the polling place for all on-campus residents who live within the Henrico side of campus.

If you are not registered to vote in Virginia, you can show up to the polls on Election Day to register to vote and submit your ballot. Even if you are registered to vote in another state, you can change your registration to Virginia but you must not have submitted a ballot or requested an absentee ballot from your home state.

All dorm residents will vote at Jepson Alumni Center.

For UFA, Gateway Village, or off-campus residents, check your polling place here.

When you arrive at your polling place on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 5 6am-7pm), let the poll worker know that you’d like to register to vote and submit a ballot. They will give you a green provisional ballot. You will register to vote on the envelope and fill out the ballot inside. You must register using your Virginia residential address. Find our ballot guide here, which includes a list of campus residnetial addresses. Please bring your UR I.D. to show Virginia residency. 

Provisional ballots are counted once your registration has been approved. 

Pick up your ballot guide in the CCE (THC 201).

In Virginia, a new law was passed that repeals the requirement for a photo I.D. to vote.

A Student ID may be used to vote!

A voter who does not show one of the required forms of identification is required to sign a statement that they are the named registered voter they claim to be in order to be permitted to cast a ballot.

Do I qualify for an emergency absentee ballot?

If you were unable to meet the "vote by mail" application deadline for any of the following reasons:

1. Your hospitalization or illness;
2. The hospitalization, illness, or death of a spouse, child, or parent; or
3. Other emergency found to justify receipt of an emergency absentee ballot

Requirements for emergency absentee voting:

1. You may request to vote emergency absentee at any time prior to 2 p.m. on the day preceding the election.
2. If you are approved for an emergency ballot, your Registrar will provide the absentee ballot to your designated representative for delivery to you.
3. You should mark the ballot in the presence of your designated representative. 
4. The ballot will be counted only if the ballot is received by the Registrar prior to the close of polls.

Determine eligibility and download application on the Virginia Department of Elections website.

• Campus Elect - Includes candidate and issue guides, voter education resources, a fellowship program, and more.
• All In Challenge - Resources for student voter engagement.
• Campus Vote Project - Contains guides about voter registration drives, engagement activties for students, developing student engagement plans, state specific guides, etc.
• Every Vote Counts - A student-led, nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing voter turnout and expanding voter access nationwide.
• Fair Elections Legal Network - Contains information and resources on removing barriers to registration and voting.
• Sample Ballot Lookup (Ballotopedia) - View the elections you will be voting in with this sample ballot lookup tool.
• Virginia State Board of Elections
• Vote.org - Countdown to the election, polling place locator, check registration, register, or vote by mail.
• Vote Remote - How to vote as a college student.
• TurboVote - Sign up for election reminders, get help with voter registration and voting by mail.
• Issue Voter - Allows people to choose the issues they care about and sends you information about those issues. Makes it easier for you to contact your representatives.
• Be A Voter - Voter checklist, guide to voting.
• Nonprofit Vote - Voting information by state.
• How to Vote - Election resources by state.