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VOTE
Alexandria voters have a decision to make on August 4 — and a handful of deadlines to beat if they'd rather not wait for Election Day. The City's Office of Voter Registration & Elections has laid out every way to cast a ballot early, whether that means dropping it in the mail, stopping by in person, or feeding it into a secure drop box on your own schedule.
Here's what every registered voter needs to know before the windows close.
One Election, Two Ballots — but Pick Just One
The August 4, 2026, Dual Party Primary Election puts two contests on the table: a Democratic Party primary for Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 8th District, and a Republican Party primary for Member of the U.S. Senate. Every qualified Virginia voter may choose one ballot or the other — but not both.
All registered voters in Virginia are eligible to vote by mail or in person, so the only real question is how, and by when.
Voting by Mail
Want your ballot to come to you? Applications to request a mail-in ballot must reach the Office of Voter Registration & Elections by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 24. There are three ways to get one:
- through the state's voter portal.
- Download the application from the City's Elections webpage.
- Call Voter Registration & Elections at 703.746.4050 and ask to have one mailed — just leave enough time for it to arrive.
Once you've voted, your completed ballot must either land back at the Office of Voter Registration & Elections by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, or be postmarked by August 4 and received in the office by noon on Friday, August 7.
One note for the in-person crowd: if you plan to vote early or on Election Day, you don't need to submit an application at all — and you shouldn't submit one before you show up.
Early Voting
Prefer to vote in person but skip the Election Day rush? Early voting runs through Saturday, August 1 at 5 p.m. at two locations:
- Office of Voter Registration & Elections — 132 N. Royal St., Suite 100
- Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library — 5005 Duke St.
At the Office of Voter Registration & Elections (132 N. Royal St., Suite 100):
Regular hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., with these added and extended sessions:
- Sunday, July 19 — 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Saturday, July 25 — 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Sunday, July 26 — 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 28 — 8 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Thursday, July 30 — 8 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Saturday, August 1 — 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
At the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke St.):
Open for early voting only during these hours:
- Sunday, July 19 — 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Saturday, July 25 — 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Sunday, July 26 — 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Saturday, August 1 — 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Ballot Drop Boxes
For voters who'd rather hand-deliver a mail ballot, drop boxes offer a no-fuss option. On August 4, every polling place will have one available from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. A secure outdoor drop box — monitored by video surveillance — sits in front of the Office of Voter Registration & Elections and is accessible 24 hours a day through 7 p.m. on August 4. Beatley Library also hosts a drop box during its early voting hours.
Not Registered Yet? There's Still Time
The deadline to register for the August 4 primary during the normal registration period is July 24, 2026. You can register, check your status, or update an existing registration online.
Miss that Friday deadline? You still have options. Same-day registration lets you register and vote at the same time — but you must be in the correct locality and at your correct polling location. Same-day registrants cast a provisional ballot, which won't be scanned at the polling place and won't appear in the "unofficial" results on Election Night. Instead, it's verified after the election; provisional ballots found to be properly cast are folded into the "official" tally. Questions about the process can go to voters@alexandriaVA.gov or 703.746.4050.
For complete election information — including registration requirements, sample ballots, precinct maps, and ID requirements — visit the City's Elections page.
