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Virginia elections, 2023
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Ballotpedia is the digital encyclopedia of American politics and elections. Our goal is to inform people about politics by providing accurate and objective information about politics at all levels of government. We are firmly committed to neutrality in our content.
This page provides information on the 2023 elections in Virginia, including the offices on the ballot covered by Ballotpedia, election dates, and frequently asked questions.
Election dates
Statewide election dates in Virginia are listed below. For more dates, please see the elections calendar.
Statewide election dates
June 20, 2023: Primary
November 7, 2023: General election
Offices on the ballot
| Virginia elections, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office | Elections? | More information |
| U.S. Senate | — | — |
| U.S. House | — | — |
| Congress special election | ✓ | Click here |
| Governor | — | — |
| Other state executive | — | — |
| State Senate | ✓ | Click here |
| State House | ✓ | Click here |
| Special state legislative | ✓ | Click here |
| State Supreme Court | — | — |
| Intermediate appellate courts | — | — |
| School boards | ✓ | Click here |
| Municipal government | ✓ | Click here |
| Recalls | — | — |
| Ballot measures | — | — |
| Local ballot measures | ✓ | Click here |
Legend: ✓ election(s) / — no elections
Subject to Ballotpedia's scope
Noteworthy elections
Below is a list of races in this state that received in-depth coverage on Ballotpedia. Click the link below to learn about that race.
- Loudoun County Public Schools, Virginia, elections (2023)
- Prince William County Public Schools, Virginia, elections (2023)
- Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2023
- Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2023 (June 20, 2023 primaries)
- Virginia State Senate District 7 special election, 2023
- Virginia State Senate elections, 2023
- Virginia State Senate elections, 2023 (June 20, 2023 primaries)
Frequently asked questions
When are the polls open?
6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.[1]
See State Poll Opening and Closing Times (2023) for more information
Where can I find election results?
Election results are posted on Ballotpedia's election overview pages, as well as the relevant candidate pages. You can find links to the current election overview pages in the "Offices on the ballot" section of this page.
How do primaries work in Virginia?
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Virginia utilizes an open primary process in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[2]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
How do I register to vote?
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Virginia, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of Virginia, and at least 18 years of age. A person must also not be registered and planning to vote in another state, or declared mentally incompetent by a court. If a person has been convicted of a felony they must have had their right to vote restored.[3]
Registration can be completed online, in person at a local voter registration office, or by mail. Voters can also register at the following locations:[3]
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The deadline to register is the 11th day before a primary or general election, but a voter may register to voter after this deadline through the state's same-day registration system and vote a provisional ballot.[3][5]
Is there an early voting period?
- See also: Early voting
Virginia permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Who is eligible for absentee voting?
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
All Virginia voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail. There are no special requirements to be eligible to vote absentee/by mail. Voters may request an absentee ballot online or complete a paper absentee ballot request form and return it to their local voter registration office by mail, fax, or email. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. at least 11 days before Election Day.[6]
Completed ballots must be returned to the local registrar's office or an official drop-off location by 7 p.m. on Election Day. If mailed, completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by noon on the third day following the election in order to be counted.[7]
Voters who are unable to apply for an absentee ballot by the deadline because they or a family member were hospitalized or ill, or because they had an unexpected obligation may apply for an emergency absentee ballot. An application form must be received by 5 p.m. on the day before the election and a voter's authorized representative may transmit the ballot. The ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received by noon on the third day following the election.[8][7]
What are the voter ID laws in Virginia?
See Voter identification laws by state.
How do I file to run for office?
See Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Virginia for information on how to run for state or federal office.
What does Ballotpedia cover?
Ballotpedia's coverage extends to all elections on the federal level, all gubernatorial, state legislative, statewide ballot measure, and statewide judicial elections, as well as many other types of state executive offices. Ballotpedia also covers all elections in the U.S. territories, but not elections in other countries.
Local election coverage includes comprehensive ballot coverage for municipal and judicial elections in the top 100 cities by population and races for the large counties that overlap them. In the state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities, it includes coverage of mayoral, city council, and district attorney elections. It also includes school board elections in the top 200 largest school districts by enrollment, all California local ballot measures, and notable local ballot measures from across the nation.
Please note that Ballotpedia's election coverage does not encompass all local offices. Election information is not published in a timely manner for many local offices, which makes it infeasible to gather the necessary data given our limited resources. However, Ballotpedia's coverage scope for local elections continues to grow, and you can use Ballotpedia's sample ballot tool to see what local elections we are covering in your area.
How do I contact Ballotpedia with a question?
Email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Local election officials
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Redistricting following the 2020 census
This section lists major events in the post-2020 census redistricting cycle in reverse chronological order. Major events include the release of apportionment data, the release of census population data, the introduction of formal map proposals, the enactment of new maps, and noteworthy court challenges. Click the dates below for additional information.
- October 31, 2025: The Virginia State Senate voted 21-16 to approve a constitutional amendment that would allow the state to redraw its congressional lines.[9]
- October 29, 2025: The Virginia House of Delegates voted 51-42 to approve a constitutional amendment that would allow the state to redraw its congressional lines.[10]
- October 27, 2025: The Virginia General Assembly adopted House Resolution 6006 which would allow the legislature to consider a constitutional amendment for mid-decade congressional redistricting.
Footnotes
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Election and Voter FAQ: What hours are the polls open?", accessed December 2, 2022
- ↑ Virginia Legislative Information System, "Va. Code § 24.2–530," accessed December 23, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Virginia Department of Elections, "How to Register," accessed December 23, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Same-Day Voter Registration," accessed December 23, 2025
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Virginia Absentee Ballot Application Form," accessed December 23, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Virginia Department of Elections, "Absentee and Early Voting," accessed December 23, 2025
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Emergency Absentee Ballot Application," accessed December 23, 2025
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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