Voting

For additional election schedule information, click on the Election Calendar tab to the right or call 540-545-7910 for more information. 

As of July 1, 2020, identification presented when voting no longer needs to be a photo ID, but does need to be an acceptable ID.   

Acceptable IDs(PDF, 292KB)

Statewide, district lines were redrawn by the Virginia Supreme Court in the winter of 2021-2022. This always follows the decennial census. 

In May 2022, Voter Registration Notices were mailed to all registered voters (over 18,000) in Winchester, due to Redistricting. Some voters (not most) will notice a change in their polling place, or where they vote on Election Day. This is one of many steps in maintaining the accuracy of voter registration records in Winchester. For more information, contact the Office of Elections & Voter Registration. Additional similar notification letters were sent by the Virginia Department of Elections in September 2022. 

Print the form, complete it, and mail itto Office of Elections, 107 N East Lane,Winchester, VA 22601.Voters now have the option of joining the permanent absentee list in order to receive Vote-By-Mail (absentee) ballots for future elections. Downloading and printing Absentee Ballot Application is an alternative to online submission.

Early Voting In-Person

• You can vote early at your local Office of Elections & Voter Registration beginning 45 days before Election Day, and ending the Saturday before Election Day.
• You do not have to have a reason or to fill out an application to vote early.
• When checking in to vote, you must provide your name and address and show an acceptable form of ID or sign an ID Confirmation Statement. If acceptable identification is not provided, you must sign an ID Confirmation Statement or a provisional ballot will be offered and you are allowed until the Friday at noon following the election to provide a copy of acceptable identification to the electoral board or sign an ID Confirmation Statement.
• Accessible voting equipment is available upon request.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a Vote By Mail ballot?

Be sure to complete all information on the form, the address where you want the ballot mailed, your full name, current residence address, and the last four digits of your social security number. The application MUST be signed.

You may also call (540) 545-7910 to have an application mailed to you.

Military and overseas voters can find specific information regarding absentee voting by visiting the tab to the right for Uniform Military and Overseas voter information.

When will I get my ballot?

Absentee ballots will be available (for mailing or in-person) approximately 45 days prior to each election. Ballots will be mailed within 3 business days after receipt of the completed application. Please apply early enough to allow time to receive your ballot and return it by Election Day. Call or email us if your ballot does not arrive within a reasonable time.

How can I track my ballot after I send it back? 

How is my vote counted?

All absentee ballots, both in-person or by mail, are tabulated on Election Day in the Central Absentee Precinct (CAP). Instructions will be included with your ballot. They must be followed carefully in order for your ballot to be counted on Election Day.

To register to vote in Virginia, you must:

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be 18 years of age by the next general election
• Be a resident of Virginia
• Have had your rights restored if you have ever been convicted of a felony
• Have had capacity restored if you have ever been declared mentally incapacitated by a Circuit Court

When can I register to vote?

You may register to vote year-round except during the 21 days prior to a general or primary election.

How do I register to vote?

Pick up a Virginia Voter Registration Application at the following sites:

• Handley Regional Library - Corner of Piccadilly & Braddock Sts
• U.S. Post Office - 340 N. Pleasant Valley Road
• U.S. Post Office - 132 N. Loudoun Street (Mall)
• Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) - 4050 Valley Pike
• City of Winchester, Dept of Social Services - 24 Baker Street
• Military Recruitment Offices - 2220 Wilson Blvd
• Social Security Office - 12 Ricketts Drive
• Rouss City Hall, Main Lobby - 15 North Cameron Street

Mail or drop off the completed application to:

Office of Elections & Voter Registration
City of Winchester
107-A N East Lane
Winchester, VA 22601

PLEASE NOTE: Virginia law requires that those who register by mail, rather than in person, must vote in person the first time they vote. Exempt from this requirement are military service members and dependents, overseas citizens, full-time students, and disabled persons.

Report a change of name or address

To remain a qualified registered voter, the law requires you to notify your local voter registration office of any change in name or address. This must be done before the registration books close 21 days prior to each election. You can submit your notice of change of name or address by mail. In either case, the notice must include your signature to be valid. Notice cannot be made by telephone or e-mail.

After your change is processed, you will be mailed a new Voter Notification Letter. If the letter does not arrive within a few weeks, please call us at (540) 545-7910, to confirm that your update was received.

The following information is required to register

• Full legal name (including middle or maiden name)
• Home address
• Birth date
• Social security number
• Must be a U.S. citizen
• If convicted of a felony, voting rights must have been restored and the date of restoration must be provided on the Voter Registration Application
• If judged incapacitated by a court, voting rights must have been restored and the date of restoration must be provided on the Voter Registration Application
• Complete address of current registration, if any
• Signature

Find Where You Vote

NOTE: This site does not confirm that you are registered to vote at the polling place displayed. If you have moved and have not updated your voter registration, this site may not display your correct polling place. If you have questions about your registration status or polling place, we strongly urge you to contact your local voter registration office at least 22 days before election day.

Polling Places

First Ward

0101 - Merrimans Precinct - John Kerr Elementary School - 427 Meadow Branch Avenue

0102 - Old Town Precinct - Christ Episcopal Church - 132 W. Boscawen Street

Second Ward

0201 - Virginia Avenue Precinct - Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School - 550 Virginia Avenue

Third Ward

0301 - War Memorial Precinct - War Memorial Building (Jim Barnett Park Rec Center) - 1001 E. Cork Street

Fourth Ward

0401 - Frederick Douglass Precinct - Frederick Douglass Elementary School  - 100 W. Cedarmeade Avenue

0402 - Rolling Hills Precinct - The Youth Development Center - 3 Battaile Drive

Voting Wards

March 5, 2024

• Presidential Primary

May 2, 2024

• Absentee Voting begins for the June 18 Primary Election. "Absentee Voting" includes all voting that happens prior to an election day, whether by mail or early "in-person." Early In-Person voting is available during business hours, M-F, 8:30am-4:30 pm through the Early Voting season. Additional voting hours are on the two Saturdays immediately preceding Election Day. (See below.) The mailing of absentee ballots also begins on this day.

May 28, 2024

• LAST DAY to register to vote in order to vote in the June 18 Primary Election.

June 7, 2024 (by 5 p.m.)

• Last day to request (via online, fax, or mail) an absentee ballot issued to you by mail. 

June 8, 2024

• Office of Elections has Saturday hours for In-Person Absentee Voting, 8:30 a.m – 4:30 p.m.

June 15, 2024

• Office of Elections has Saturday hours, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. for In-Person Absentee Voting. LAST DAY to vote early (absentee in-person) and Voting ENDS AT 5:00 p.m.

June 18, 2024

• PRIMARY ELECTION DAY. Polls are open 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Absentee Ballots returned by mail must be POSTMARKED by this day.
• 7:30 p.m. – Winchester Electoral Board begins official Canvass Meeting and continues through Tuesday, June 25. 

June 21, 2024 at noon

• Deadline for Absentee Ballots postmarked on/by June 18 to be received in order to be counted. 

November 5, 2024

• President (4-year term)
• U.S. Senator (6-year term)
• U.S. Representative (2-year term)
• Council Members - One seat in each ward (4-year term)
• Mayor - Elected at large
• School Board - First Ward - one seat
• School Board - Second Ward - one seat
• School Board - Third Ward - one seat
• School Board - At-Large - one seat

June 17, 2025

• Primary (if held)

November 4, 2025

• Governor (4-year term)
• Lieutenant Governor (4-year term)
• Attorney General (4-year term)
• House of Delegates (2-year term)
• Constitutional Officers (4-year term)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney
  • Sheriff
  • Commissioner of the Revenue
  • Treasurer

Elections Overview

National Officials

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
(202) 456-1414
Fax (202) 456-2461

President
Joe Biden (D)

Vice President
Kamala Harris (D)

United States Congress

Congress
U.S. Capitol Information Desk: (202) 224-3121

United States Senate

Senator Tim Kaine (D)
388 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4024
Fax (202)-228-6363

Senator Mark R. Warner (D)
225 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2023
Fax (202) 224-6295
Email

United States House of Representatives

House of Representatives

Virginia State Officials

Virginia Government

Governor
Glenn A. Youngkin (R)
Office of the Governor
State Capitol
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 786-2211
Fax (804) 371-6351

Lt. Governor
Winsome Sears (R)
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
900 E. Main Street, Suite 1400
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 786-2078
Fax (804) 786-7514
Email

Attorney General
Jason Miyares (R)
Office of the Attorney General
900 E. Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219-3524
(804) 786-2071
Fax (804) 786-1991
Email

Virginia General Assembly

General Assembly

• Register your opinion at 1-800-889-0229 operational during General Assembly Session
• During General Assembly Session in Richmond, Senators and Delegates may be reached at the General Assembly Building, 910 Capitol Street, Richmond, VA 23219
• The representation districts below have changed to District 1 for Virginia Senate and District 32 for House of Delegates and will be reflected after the results of the November 2023 General Election are certified. 

Senate of Virginia

VA. Senate Home Page
Legislative Information: (804) 698-7410
Senate Clerk: (804) 698-7400

During General Assembly Session in Richmond:

• Mail for Senators: Senate of Virginia, PO Box 396, Richmond, VA 23218
• Phone numbers for Senators: (804) 698-75+district number

27th District
Jill Holtzman Vogel (R)
117 E. Piccadilly Street, Suite 100-B 
Winchester, VA 22601
(540) 662-4551
FAX (540) 341-8809

General Assembly Building, Room 322
910 Capitol Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 698-7527
FAX (804) 698-7651
Email

House of Delegates

House of Delegates Home Page
Legislative Information (804) 698-1500
House of Delegates Clerk (804) 698-1619

During General Assembly Session in Richmond:

• Mail for Delegates: House of Delegates, PO Box 406, Richmond, VA 23218
• Phone numbers for Delegates: (804) 698-10+district number
• E-mail for Delegates: del_[delegate's last name]@house.state.va.us

29th District
William "Bill" Wiley (R)
Winchester, VA 22601

General Assembly Bldg, Rm 509
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, VA 23218
(804) 698-1029
Email

Active Duty Military (and their spouse or dependents residing with them) and U.S. Citizens living overseas will be afforded the right to vote. You may register to vote and request a regular absentee ballot by using the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA), available at www.fvap.gov.  You can electronically apply for ballots by submitting your FPCA by fax to (540) 545-7925 or scanned email attachment to vote@winchesterva.gov. 

Virginia Voting Assistance Guide 

An Official Election Notice will be prepared not later than 100 days before a regularly scheduled election and as soon as practicable in the case of a non-regularly scheduled Special Election.  As soon as ballot styles are approved, The Department of Elections will update its website with the certified candidates for each office and ballot measures that will be on the ballot.  For most elections, ballots will be sent at least 45 days before the election to voters that have requested them.  You may request an updated Election Notice be sent to you.

Using a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot

This notice may be used to vote a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB).  Before using a FWAB, you should first request a regular absentee ballot by using the federal postcard application (FPCA). You can electronically apply for ballots by submitting your FPCA by fax to (540) 545-7925 or scanned email attachment to vote@winchesterva.gov(link sends e-mail). 

Federal Postcard Application

Covered military and overseas voters who have not timely received a regular absentee ballot may use the FWAB to register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and vote an official military-overseas ballot. Your signed and completed FWAB must be received no later than the close of polls on Election Day. If received later than this day and time, your FWAB ballot will not be counted. Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots are available at www.fvap.gov. A FWAB ballot or a regular ballot can only be returned by mail addressed to the voting official for your city or county of voting residence. Virginia does not allow return of any voted ballot electronically, by email or fax.

Marking a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot

When marking a FWAB, for each office for which you wish to vote, write in either a candidate's name or political party designation. For ballot measures or referenda, write either "YES" (you are for the ballot measure or referendum) or "NO" (you are against the ballot measure or referendum). If you indicated you wish to participate in a party primary, you may only vote for the candidates of the party you indicated.  Please contact your local election official to confirm your absentee or voter registration status. You may also visit the Virginia Department of Elections website to check your Voter Registration and Absentee Voting status and for additional information on military-overseas absentee voting.