The City of Alexandria will open additional voting locations to facilitate in-person absentee voting for the Nov. 3 general and special elections. Absentee voting will be available at the Charles Beatley Library (5005 Duke St.) from Oct. 23 through Oct. 31, except Sundays. Absentee voting will also be available at Minnie Howard School (3801 W. Braddock Rd.) and George Washington Middle School (1005 Mt. Vernon Ave.), on Saturdays, Oct. 24 and 31, only. All three locations will have ballot drop boxes available during voting hours, which vary according to the list below.
All registered voters in Virginia are eligible to vote absentee. In Virginia, absentee voting refers to any ballot cast prior to Election Day, whether by mail, drop box, or in person. Voters are encouraged to become familiar with ballot questions and voting procedures in advance to reduce wait times at voting locations. Voters should consider all available options in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Detailed information about COVID-19 safety practices is listed below.
ABSENTEE VOTING IN PERSON
The deadline to cast an absentee ballot in person is Saturday, Oct. 31, at 5 p.m. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and in accordance with local and state requirements, each person at a voting location must wear a mask over their nose and mouth, and maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from others.
In-person absentee voting hours and locations are as follows.
Beatley Library, 5005 Duke St.
Friday, Oct. 23, Noon-6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 26, Noon-8 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, Noon-8 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 28, Noon-8 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 29, Noon-8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30, Noon-6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Minnie Howard School, 3801 W. Braddock Road
Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Office of Voter Registrations & Elections (132 N. Royal St., Suite 100)
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m-5 p.m.
Additional Hours:
Friday, Oct. 23, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 26, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 29, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
ABSENTEE VOTING BY MAIL
The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot by mail is Friday, Oct. 23. Applications must be received in the Voter Registration Office on that day by 5 p.m.
Voters may also submit absentee ballot applications online at https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation. They may also get paper applications at https://www.alexandriava.gov/Elections, or by contacting the Alexandria Voter Registration Office at 703-746-4050.
Completed ballots must be returned to the Office of Elections by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3, or postmarked by November 3 and received in the office by noon on Friday, Nov. 6.
Voters who believe they cannot safely have a witness present while completing the ballot for the Nov. 3 election may disregard the witness signature requirements.
BALLOT DROP BOXES
Ballot drop boxes will be available at the same dates, times and locations listed above for in-person absentee voting. In addition, drop boxes will be available at all polling places on Nov. 3, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. A secure outdoor drop box is available in front of the Office of Voter Registration & Elections, which is under video surveillance and available 24 hours a day, through Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY
The Office of Voter Registration and Elections is implementing guidance for in-person voting locations from the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Best practices include training for election officers; limiting the number of people inside each polling place at one time; providing hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies at each polling place; using extensive signage and floor markers; and providing plexiglass shields between voters and staff where needed. Alexandria Medical Reserve Corps volunteers will serve as ambassadors to encourage proper mask use and physical distancing in outdoor lines and indoor polling places.
Curbside voting is available at all in-person voting locations, from now through Nov. 3, including at each polling place on Election Day. Curbside voting is available for voters who are at least 65 years old, or have a physical disability. Follow signs at each location to request curbside assistance.
The process of voting does not require the voter to touch anything except the pen, ballot, and privacy folder. This year, voters are encouraged to keep the pens and privacy folders so they will not be reused. Recycling trays will be available for voters who do not wish to keep the pens or folders.
Voters who are sick or close contacts of individuals with COVID-19 should vote absentee by mail if they are likely to be under isolation or quarantine on Nov. 3. Voters who are ill or under quarantine and miss an applicable absentee voting deadline should call the Office of Voter Registration and Elections at 703-746-4050 to learn about potential emergency absentee voting options.
WHAT’S ON THE BALLOT?
The ballot includes contests for President and Vice President of the United States, one member of the U.S. Senate, one member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the 8th Congressional District, and two amendments to the Constitution of Virginia.
Visit https://www.alexandriava.gov/Elections for complete information on this election, including voter registration requirements, sample ballots, precinct maps and ID requirements.
For more information or for reasonable disability accommodation, contact Angela Maniglia Turner, General Registrar and Director of Elections, at voters@alexandriava.gov or 703-746-4050, Virginia Relay 711.