News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 17, 2024
Andrea M. Gaines
(804) 263-5752
[email protected]
EARLY VOTING FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES BEGINS JAN. 19
RICHMOND, VA — Early voting for the Virginia Presidential Primary on March 5th begins this
Friday, January 19, 2024. Virginia will have a dual presidential primary election, which means
both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party will have primaries on the same day.
In a dual primary, officers of election will ask voters if they want to cast their ballot in the
Democratic Party Primary or the Republican Party Primary. All qualified voters may vote in
either primary, but voters may not vote in both primaries.
The choice to vote in a party’s primary does not mean that the voter will be “registered” with that
party. Virginia does not have party registration.
Six candidates will appear on the Republican primary ballot: Chris Christie, Ryan L. Binkley,
Vivek Ramaswamy, Donald J. Trump, Ron D. DeSantis, and Nikki R. Haley. Three candidates
will appear on the Democratic primary ballot: Marianne Williamson, Joseph R. Biden Jr and
Dean Benson Phillips.
In-person early voting for the March 5, 2024, presidential primary election begins Friday, Jan. 19
and will continue through Saturday, March 2.
To vote early in-person, registered voters should go to the general registrar’s office for the
jurisdiction in which they are registered, present their ID, and cast their ballot. The location of
the general registrar’s office for all jurisdictions can be found on the Virginia Department of
Elections’ website (https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/PublicContactLookup)
as well as a list of acceptable forms of identification
(https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/voterid/index.html).
Some jurisdictions may offer early in-person voting at both the general registrar’s office and
satellite locations. Curbside voting is also available for those with disabilities and anyone over 65.
Contact your general registrar’s office for more information regarding voting hours and
additional locations.
Requested absentee ballots will be mailed beginning Jan. 19, including ballots to registered
military and overseas voters. Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot either in-person,
by mail, online (https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/Lookup/absentee) or by
contacting your general registrar’s office.
Registered voters do not need a reason to request an absentee ballot.
In order to return a voted ballot, voters can drop off their absentee ballot at the general registrar’s
office or polling location on Election Day. Absentee ballots returned by mail must be
postmarked on or before March 5 and received by the general registrar before noon Friday,
March 8.
Anyone with visual or manual dexterity impairment has the option to vote an absentee ballot
using an electronic marking tool.
The deadline to register to vote and cast a regular ballot is Feb. 12. After that date, voters will
have to use same-day registration and vote a provisional ballot.
The deadline to apply for a mailed ballot is Feb. 23.
Voters with questions about absentee and early in-person voting should contact their general
registrar’s office or the Virginia Department of Elections by phone at 1-800-552-9745 or by
email at [email protected]. For more information, voters are encouraged to visit the
Virginia Department of Elections website at www.elections.virginia.gov.