Absentee voting will open Sept. 20 for fall elections

Absentee voting opens Friday, Sept. 20, for the Nov. 5 general election.

Qualified Virginia voters may cast absentee ballots in-person at their local voter registration offices or by mail.

To vote absentee, they must meet one of 20 eligibility requirements listed on the Virginia Absentee Ballot Application and at elections.virginia.gov/absentee.

"If you can't make it to the polls on Election Day, casting an absentee ballot is a great option," Department of Elections Commissioner Christopher Piper said.

Voters can request an absentee ballot online at www.elections.virginia.gov/absentee.

Important dates:

Tuesday, Oct. 15 - The deadline to register to vote for the November General Election.

Tuesday, Oct. 29 - The deadline, at 5 p.m., to apply for an absentee ballot by mail.

In-person absentee voting can take place weekdays during regular hours, and on Saturdays, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, at the Fauquier County General Registrar's Office at 528 Waterloo Road in Warrenton.

Saturday, Nov. 2 - The deadline to vote absentee in-person.

7 p.m. Election Day, Nov. 5 - The deadline for voter registration offices to receive absentee ballots.

If requesting an absentee ballot by mail, the Department of Elections advises applying as early as possible to account for any potential delays in mail delivery.

Virginia law requires voters to present an acceptable photo ID when voting in-person. For a list of acceptable forms of photo identification, or to find out how to obtain a free Virginia Voter Photo ID Card, visit elections.virginia.gov/voterid

To find more about the November General Election, visit vote.virginia.gov.

Voters this year will elect all five county supervisors, all five school board members, four constitutional officers - commonwealth's attorney, county commissioner of revenue, sheriff and treasurer - and all state legislators.