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12h ago

Virginia Opens In‑Person Early Voting as Midterms Enter Final Six Weeks

Opening early voting in Virginia gives voters weeks to cast ballots that could tip control of Congress.

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ATHENS, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms and Democratic Senate candidate, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) wave at supporters at a campaign event at the Georgia Theater on September 13, 2026 in Athens, Georgia. Both candidates will be on the midterm ballot this November. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)
WATERFORD, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 3: Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed answers questions from attendees during a town hall event, part of a series of events across Michigan focused on hearing from voters, on September 3, 2026 at the Oakland Expo Center in Waterford, Michigan. El-Sayed is scheduled to hold additional town halls throughout September and early October in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Flint and Macomb. (Photo by Emily Elconin/Getty Images)
NOVI, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 05: Supporters cheer for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers at his election watch party with the MIGOP on November 5, 2024 in Novi, Michigan. Rogers and Democrat Elissa Slotkin are competing for the seat vacated by the retiring Debbie Stabenow. (Photo by Sarah Rice/Getty Images)

Overview

  • In‑person early voting in Virginia began on Sept. 18 and runs through Oct. 31, with local polling sites and weekend hours set by registrars to spread turnout.
  • Virginia voters may apply for a mailed ballot through Oct. 23 and must ensure mailed returns are postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by noon on Nov. 6 to count.
  • Several competitive House contests, notably the 1st and 2nd districts, and a U.S. Senate race are drawing national attention while three statewide constitutional amendments on reproductive rights, same‑sex marriage language, and automatic restoration of felony voting rights appear on the ballot.
  • State election officials are urging confidence in election security and encouraging early voting to avoid delays even as the President’s administration pursues court challenges and voter‑data searches that have drawn scrutiny and led to recent legal pushback from the Supreme Court.
  • Early voting has expanded nationwide over decades with 47 states plus D.C. offering pre‑Election Day options in 2026, a shift that could change campaign turnout strategies and make mail timing and local postal operations a key factor in how quickly results are reported.