Serving the people of
Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth,
Suffolk & Virginia Beach, VA

Mail-In Ballots

Much has been seen on the news about the current administration’s attempt to put the United States Postal Service (USPS) in control of whether a ballot is delivered to a voter or returned from the voter to the registrar for counting. This is an ongoing legal situation, and the rules may change as those cases move through the courts. 
The League of Women Voters is closely monitoring these developments.  For now, voters should take these steps…

MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE

1.Make a plan to vote – we have 45 days of early voting in Virginia and several weekend voting options (see below) – put voting on your calendar!

2. Did not receive your ballot in the mail? If you are on the permanent absentee ballot list, it should be mailed to you from your local registrar’s office on September 18.

    • If you don’t get one by early October:
      • Go to an Early Voting location and vote in-person (between September 18 and October 31,) or
      • Plan to vote in-person at your precinct on Election Day, November 3, 2026. Polls are open from 6a- 7p.

3. If you are not on the permanent absentee ballot list, and sign up to get a ballot mailed to you and have not received it in two weeks – also follow the above procedure.

4. In either case you will just need to say that you did not receive your ballot in the mail.

NOTE: Early Voting is always better –
don’t wait for the last minute.

If you wait until Election Day, November 3 you will have to vote on a provisional ballot if your absentee ballot was not received.

Again, vote early!
Early Voting Info by Jurisdiction -> Early Voting 2026

VOTE EARLY

  1. Polls are open Monday through Friday and on the following weekends:
    1. Sunday, October 18, 2026;
    2. Saturday, October 24, 2026;
    3. Sunday, October 25, 2026, and
    4. Saturday, October 31, 2026.
  2. Find your early voting site at the Virginia Department of Elections website

AFRAID TO VOTE BY MAIL?

  1. Have you received your mail-in ballot but are afraid to return it by mail?
    You can complete the ballot you received but return it to a Drop Box.
  2. Drop Boxes are located…
    • At every precinct in your locality on Election Day, November 3
    • At other locations such as Early Voting locations between September 18 and October 31.

Q – IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE TO VOTE BY MAIL?
A – YES!

An alternative for those age 65 + or with a disability is to vote curbside, with their ballot brought to the car.

  • Curbside voting is available at all early voting sites and at the voter’s assigned local precinct on Election Day.
  • A bonus: anyone in the car with a voter who can vote curbside can also vote from the car.

Bottom line:
Know your options, act early, and seek help if a requested ballot does not arrive.