Fredericksburg Free Press voters’ guide

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES 

• Sept. 20: Early voting begins at your local registrar’s office.
• Oct. 15: Deadline to register to vote or make changes to your registration. (Voters may register after this date using a provisional ballot.
  • FYI: It’s always a good idea to check your voter registration before the deadline, even if you’re sure you’re registered.
• Oct. 25: Deadline to apply for a mail ballot.
• Oct. 26 and Nov. 2: Early in-person voting held on Saturdays
• Nov. 2: Last day to vote early, in person at your local registrar’s office. 
• Nov. 5: Election day: vote at your regular polling place. Polls are open from  6 a.m.-7 p.m.

VOTING FAQs

How do I find and/or contact my local Voter Registrar’s Office?

• Caroline County Voter Registrar’s Office
  Street Address: 
  212 N Main Street
  Bowling Green, V.A. 22427
  Directions
  Mailing Address:
  P.O. Box 304
  Bowling Green, V.A. 22427
  Phone: 804-633-9083
  Email: [email protected]
  Regular Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday-Friday)
• City of Fredericksburg Voter Registrar’s Office
  601 Caroline Street
  Suite 500
  Fredericksburg, V.A. 22401
  Directions
  Phone: 540-372-1030
  Email: [email protected]
  Regular Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Monday-Friday)
• King George County Voter Registrar’s Office
  Street Address:
  10459 Courthouse Drive
  Suite 102
  King George, V.A. 22485
  Directions
  Mailing Address:
  P.O. Box 1359
  King George, VA 22485
  Phone: 540-775-9186
  Email: [email protected]
  Regular Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
• Spotsylvania County Voter Registrar’s Office
  4708 Southpoint Parkway
  Fredericksburg, VA 22407
  Directions
  Phone: 540-507-7380
  Email: [email protected]
  Regular Hours: 8:30 – 4:30 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
• Stafford County Voter Registrar’s Office
  Street Address:
  124 Old Potomac Church Rd
  Suite 205
  Stafford, VA 22554
  Directions
  Mailing Address:
  P.O. Box 301
  Stafford, VA 22555
  Phone: 540-658-4000
  Email: [email protected]
  Regular Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Monday – Friday)

How do I vote early in-person?

You can vote early in-person at your local Voter Registrar’s office beginning on Sept. 20 through Nov. 2. Read more about early voting on the Virginia Department of Elections website.

Early In-Person Voting Hours by Locality:

• Caroline County Voter Registrar’s Office
  Mon – Fri Sept. 20 – Nov. 1: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Sat Oct 26: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Sat Nov 2: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• City of Fredericksburg Voter Registrar’s Office 
  Mon – Fri Sept. 20 – Nov. 1: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  Sat Oct. 26: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Sat Nov. 2: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• King George County Voter Registrar’s Office
  Mon – Fri Sept. 20 – Nov. 1: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  Sat Oct. 26: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Sat Nov. 2: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Spotsylvania County Voter Registrar’s Office
  Mon – Fri Sep. 20 – Nov. 1: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  Sat Oct. 26: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  Sat Nov. 2: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Stafford County Voter Registrar’s Office
  Mon – Fri Sept. 20 – Nov. 1: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  Sat Oct. 26: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Sat Nov. 2: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

How do I vote by mail?

You can request a mail-in ballot for the primary election until Oct. 25 without providing a reason.

Request the mail-in ballot on Virginia’s election portal, or by mailing an application for an absentee ballot to your local voter registration office (above).

After Oct. 25, only emergency absentee ballots are available until the day before the election. To qualify for an emergency absentee ballot, you must have a serious conflict (like a work conflict, or a health issue of an immediate family member).

How do I vote if I am in the military or am overseas?

If you are an absent military or overseas citizen eligible to vote in state and local elections, you may register to vote and submit an absentee ballot application electronically for a specific election or any elections up through the next year using the Department of Elections voter registration portal. A driver’s license or identification card issued by the Virginia DMV is required to complete the process paperless.

If you do not have a DMV-issued ID, you may also apply by using the federal postcard application (FPCA), available at www.fvap.gov. You can submit your FPCA by scanned email attachment to  [email protected] or via fax to (804) 371-0194. Detailed instructions are provided in the Virginia Voting Assistance Guide. FPCA’s are valid for all elections in the calendar year in which they are submitted and through the end of the next calendar year.

If you do not receive your state ballot in time, you may vote using a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB), available at www.fvap.gov. You can identify all of the state, local offices and, if applicable, ballot measures that, as of this date, are expected to be on the ballot by visiting the Candidate Lists and visit ELECT’s Citizen Portal to view your voter registration status.

Where is my polling place to vote on Nov. 5?

Click here to learn where you should vote in person on Election Day.

What are the hours of the polling locations on Election Day, Nov. 5?

Polls will be open between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. If you are in line by 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote.

Can I vote with an out-of-state or expired license?

Yes. According to the Virginia Department of Elections, if you arrive at the polling place without an acceptable ID, you can sign a statement affirming your identity and vote using a regular ballot. Additionally, even if your license is expired, you can still use it to vote.

Can I vote from jail in Virginia?

In many cases, yes. If you do not have a felony conviction, or if the governor has restored your right to vote after a felony conviction, you can vote — even from jail. This includes if you are being detained awaiting your court date, or are in jail for a misdemeanor conviction.

If you have a felony conviction, you can petition the governor to restore your voting rights.

Not sure if you’re eligible to vote?

Check your registration status at virginia.gov. You can also check out this guide on how to vote in Virginia, Virginia DOE’s pocket voter guide, and read ProPublica’s guide on voting accessibility for more information.