Fairfax County Early Voting Hours Extended On 2 Days

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — With just a few days left for in-person early voting, the Fairfax County Office of Elections is adding extra hours on two days.

On Thursday and Friday, early voting sites will open at 11 a.m. This timing does not apply to the Fairfax County Government Center, which opens for early voting at 8 a.m. Great Falls Library is only open for early voting on Saturday.

Saturday, Oct. 31 is the last day to vote early in person. On that day, every early voting site will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here is the schedule for the early voting sites:

Fairfax County Government Center

• Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Centreville Regional Library, Franconia Governmental Center, Herndon Fortnightly Library, Laurel Hill Golf Course, Mason Governmental Center, McLean Governmental Center, Mount Vernon Governmental Center, North County Governmental Center, Providence Community Center, Sully Governmental Center, Thomas Jefferson Library, Tysons-Pimmit Library, West Springfield Governmental Center

• Weekdays through Oct. 28, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct, 29 and Friday, Oct. 30: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Great Falls Library

• Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

An acceptable form of identification is required to vote in person, but it no longer has to be a photo ID. Examples of accepted IDs include a Virginia driver's license or DMV-issued photo ID, U.S. passport, and copy of a utility bill, paycheck or other government document showing the voter's address.

Curbside voting is available at early voting locations for residents 65 or older or with a physical disability. Because there are 20 curbside spaces at Fairfax County Government Center, it is recommended that curbside voters go there.

As of Tuesday, the Office of Elections reported that 301,000 ballots have been cast so far in Fairfax County. That equates to 53 percent of the total votes cast in 2016.

Some voters shared their experiences with early voting on Patch neighbor post.

Vienna Patch reader Mike Holton, who voted at the Fairfax Government Center, showed up at noon, encountered lines, and was done around 1:30 p.m. Nevertheless, he called it a "very pleasant experience."

Another reader, Ann Brough, reported a 40-minute wait time at Tysons-Pimmit Library. Tysons Corner Patch reader Erika Stegman said the process took just over an hour at Tysons-Pimmit Library.

"Great experience, very organized," Stegman wrote.

Roma Sexson, a Vienna Patch reader, used curbside voting at the Providence Community Center and said it was "very efficient." That process took less than 15 minutes. When Sexson asked how long the wait was for people in the early voting line, the estimated time was 30 to 45 minutes.

Shelagh Talbot Sinclair, a Kingstowne Patch reader, had a different experience. Her group went for curbside voting at the Franconia Governmental Center around 1:20 p.m. There were seven cars in front of them, and they were informed at 2:50 p.m. they were sixth on the list. As for the early voting line, it was reported to be out the door of the building, down to Franconia Road and around the corner to Beulah Street.

"I would suggest that if you try this bring a folding chair, a book, and your lunch/dinner," Shelagh Talbot Sinclair wrote.

Burke Patch reader Joyce Gaul voted at the West Springfield Governmental Center and said the process took about four hours. Reader Mary Bowles reported a wait time of 2.25 hours.

"Despite the long line, everyone was extremely pleasant and happy to be there plus really nice weather," Gaul wrote.

During early voting hours, voters can also drop off completed absentee ballots that were requested by mail. Burke Patch reader Beatty Gail Lumer reported that her family's ballots were able to be dropped off in the drop box at West Springfield Government Center right away. While there are lines for in-person early voting, there is no wait to drop off mail-in absentee ballots at any drop box.

A secure drop box is also available 24/7 outside the Fairfax County Government Center. Drop boxes will be available at all polling places on Election Day, Nov. 3 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Absentee ballots requested by mail must be delivered in person by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 or be postmarked by Tuesday, Nov. 3. For absentee ballots returned by mail, they must be received by the Fairfax County Office of Elections by noon on Friday, Nov. 6.

For a ballot placed in a drop box, use the state portal instead of Ballot Scout to check if it has been received. The Office of Elections says the state portal is the most reliable way to track your absentee ballot.

For more information on the Nov. 3 election in Fairfax County, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections. To check your polling place, visit vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation.