Photo ID Requirements for Nov. 4 General Election in Virginia

The Nov. 4 General Election will be the first time Fairfax County voters will be required to provide a photo ID to vote. The Virginia General Assembly approved legislation in 2013 that now requires citizens voting in-person either on Election Day or in-person absentee to provide an acceptable form of photo ID. It is difficult to estimate how many voters do not have an acceptable form of photo ID, but according to the Virginia Department of Elections, it could be as many as 13,000 active voters in Fairfax County.

Four things you need to know about the photo ID requirement:

1. There are several forms of acceptable photo ID, including your Virginia driver’s license, U.S. passport, military ID and federal, Virginia or local government-issued photo ID cards. Check the complete list from the Virginia Department of Elections. Tell your family, friends and loved ones to check to make sure they have an acceptable form of photo ID.
   
   
2. If you don’t have an acceptable form of photo ID, there are many opportunities to apply for a free Virginia voter photo ID.You can go to the Office of Elections in theGovernment Center or many locations countywide. For more information, call the Fairfax County Office of Elections at 703-222-0776 (TTY 711).
   
   
3. Absentee voters who vote by mail, such as those with disabilities that keep them housebound, do not need photo ID to vote absentee by mail, though first-time registrants under federal law may not be eligible to vote absentee by mail. If you have questions, call the Office of Elections at 703-222-0776 (TTY 711).
   
   
4. If you go to your polling location without an acceptable form of photo ID, you will be required to vote a provisional ballot. In order for it to count, you will then have until noon on the Friday (Nov. 7) after the election to deliver a copy of acceptable photo ID identification to the Fairfax County Electoral Board at the Office of Elections in the Government Center.

(Courtesy of Fairfax County)