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ID Needed for Voter Registration

Virginia

When submitting your voter registration by mail for the first time, you must provide your Social Security number on the application and a copy of following with your application:

  • A valid photo identification
  • A copy of a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address
  • another government document that shows your name and address (for example a voter card)

Note: If no ID is sent, you must produce ID the first time you vote and it must be in person (not a mailed-in absentee ballot). Click here to download your state's registration form

ID Needed for Voting?

Virginia

All voters are required to show ID at the polls. Acceptable forms of ID are:

  • Virginia voter registration card
  • Valid Virginia driver's license
  • Military ID
  • Any Federal, Virginia state or local government-issued ID
  • Employer issued photo ID card
  • Concealed handgun permit
  • Valid student ID issued by any institution of higher education located in the Commonwealth of Virginia
  • Current utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck indicating the name and address of the voter
  • Social Security card (does not satisfy special federal ID requirements - more information below)

All Virginia active registered voters will be mailed a new Virginia voter registration card before the election. Be sure to register today and a voter registration card will be mailed to you after your application has been processed.

Voters without acceptable ID will be given the opportunity to vote a provisional ballot. After completing the provisional ballot, the voter will be given written instructions on how to submit a copy of their ID so that their vote can be counted. A voter will have until noon on the Friday following the election to deliver a copy of the ID to the local electoral board. Voters may submit their copy of ID by fax, email, in-person or through USPS or commercial delivery service. If the copy of ID is not delivered by noon on the Friday after the election the provisional ballot will not be counted.

Special Federal ID Requirements for Certain First Time Voters:

If you registered to vote in Virginia by mail, you must show ID when voting (in-person or absentee) for the first time in a federal election if you did not send a copy of one of these IDs with your voter registration applications. Acceptable forms of ID are:

  • A current and valid photo ID (like a driver's license)
  • Current utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck that shows name and address
  • Another government document that shows name and address (like a voter card)
  • A social Security card does NOT count as acceptable ID

If the voter does not present one of these forms of ID at the polls they will be offered a provisional ballot that includes a voter information statement. The provisional ballot will only count if the voter later provides the required ID. If the voter returns an absentee ballot by mail without a copy of one of these forms of ID, the absentee ballot with be treated as a provisional ballot and counted only if the voter provides a copy of the ID to the electoral board by the deadline.

Provisional Voting

Virginia

A provisional ballot may be cast if a voter's registration status can not be verified by either the Election Officer or the Voter Registrar. You may also vote a provisional ballot if you do not show the required ID or when a court orders the polls to stay open past their normal closing time.

The provisional ballot might not be counted. The decision to count the provisional ballots will be made by the local Electoral Board on the day after the election.

If you vote a provisional ballot you will be given notice of the time and place of the Electoral Board's meeting and a toll free number to check the status of your ballot.


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