It is easy to vote, but voters must pay attention to the details surrounding each method. There are a number of options available to securely vote in the upcoming Presidential election in Arlington.
Vote in-person either the day of the Election at your regular polling site or in-person before the election at one of five sites located around Arlington (listed below.)
Vote by absentee ballot through the mail or by depositing the ballot in a supervised drop box. Two drop boxes are currently available at 2100 Clarendon 3rd floor and 2100 Clarendon. They are only available during voting hours; not 24 hours a day. On Oct. 17 when the additional early voting satellite sites are open, drop boxes will be available at these sites as well during voting hours.
When you receive your absentee ballot, you will receive two envelopes and must use both of them whether you are mailing the ballot or using a drop box. In both cases insert the envelope containing the ballot into the yellow striped Mail Ballot Return Envelope.
Any voter can vote absentee for any reason replacing the former requirement that a voter had to cite a specific reason from an approved list.
Important dates:
Sept. 18, Early voting begins at the Arlington Courthouse Plaza.
Sept. 18, Absentee ballots previously applied for began appearing in Arlington voter’s mailboxes. You can apply for an absentee ballot at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/. When you receive your ballot, mark it carefully with a blue or black pen, place in envelope B provided, complete information on the envelope and sign. Place that envelope in Mail Ballot Return Envelope with the yellow stripe and return. You may mail through USPS or a commercial delivery service or drop in a supervised drop box location.
Oct. 13, Last day to register to vote. If you are unsure if you are registered to vote, you can check at the one-stop shopping site for Virginia voter information at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/. If you are voting for the first time, you must submit a copy of a valid ID with your ballot or your initial application.
Oct. 17 Early in person early voting begins at four additional satellite sites including Aurora Hills Community Center, Langston-Brown Community Center, Madison Community Center and Walter Reed Community Center.
Oct. 23 Last date for requesting absentee ballots, but don’t wait until then.
Nov. 3 Election Day.
Polling places open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Each of Arlington’s 54 precincts has a polling place.
On the ballot: President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives (8th District), one County Board seat and two School Board seats. There are also two Constitutional amendments and four bond issues on the ballot.
Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day. Be sure to mail at least 10 days before Election Day to account for potential postal backlog caused by heavy mail. The ballot will be counted if it arrives by noon on the Friday after Election Day. Be safe and drop it in a drop box.
For questions: https://vote.arlingtonva.us/ or call 703-228-3456.