Common questions about voting, IDs, voting machines, previewing the ballot, assistance, and volunteering on Election Day.
When do I vote?
The Commonwealth of Virginia has elections every November. Federal elections are held in even-numbered years, and local and state elections are held in odd-numbered years. Primary elections are held in February (Presidential) and June (as parties request).
Throughout Virginia, polls are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Refer to the schedule of elections for the dates of elections to be held this year.
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Where do I vote?
Voters are assigned to vote at polling places based on where they reside. If your voter registration is up-to-date, you can refer to your Voter Card for your precinct number and polling place location. You may also find information about your polling place by using our on-line service to check your voter registration. Choose 'Prince William County' as your locality. Please be aware that if you click on “Polling Place” option, you will view the polling place for the address you enter; but this does not verify that you are registered to vote. If you choose the “Voter Registration” option, you must enter your name as it appears in the registration system or no record will be found. If your information is not available online, but you believe you are registered, please call our office at 703-792-6470 for assistance. If you moved and did not update your voter registration information, please contact our office to find out if you are eligible to vote in the next election.
You can also use Prince William County's QuickInfo to find Election Districts and Polling Locations for a particular address. Again, this does not verify your registration, but you can use it to find voting information.
To see the list of all polling places in Prince William County, refer to Election Districts. The polling places and addresses are listed by Magisterial District in the County.
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How do I vote?
When voting on Election Day at the polling places, voters use a touchscreen voting system by Sequoia (Edge). With a touchscreen voting system, a voter touches the screen to make, change, and review selections, and cast a ballot.
For mail-in absentee voting a paper-based optical scan voting system is used. With this system, a voter is mailed a paper ballot and completes the arrow next to the candidate or ballot question response for which the voter wants to vote. At the local CAP (Central Absentee Precinct), the paper ballot is fed into a scanning unit, which reads and tabulates the selections made by the voter.
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Why do I have to show an ID to vote?
Virginia voters are reminded that under law passed by the 2000 General Assembly, they are now required to provide identification (Virginia ID Requirements) or sign an Affirmation of Identification, in order to vote at the polls. The 2002 General Assembly extended the ID requirement to absentee voters who vote in person.
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How do I volunteer to help on Election Day?
Prince William County relies on its citizens to assist in conducting elections. Serving as an election officer is a rewarding way to participate in your government and help us to ensure a fair and well-organized voting process. Please visit our Working at the Polls page for more information.
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How do students help at the polls?
Prince William County has recently reinstated its Student Election Page Program. High school students may find information and sign-up forms in their U.S. Government classes to participate in general elections held each November (County schools are not in session on election day). Please visit our Student Election Pages page for more information.
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How do I know what’s on the ballot for the upcoming election?
Ballots are ready approximately 45 days before a General Election (30 days before other elections), and we will post a summary of what is on the ballot on our Web site on the Upcoming Elections page as soon as information is available.
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I will need assistance to vote. What should I do?
Any voter who requires assistance in voting due to a physical disability or inability to read or write can receive assistance if they request it. Any of the officers of election can advise you of your rights in this area.
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Is curbside voting available at the polls?
Yes, curbside voting is still available for people ages 65 and older, or any person with a disability. To vote curbside, the voter must ask his or her driver or other individual to inform the officers of election that there is a person wishing to vote curbside. An Election Officer will check the voter's eligibility and provide a paper ballot to the voter that can be marked outside the polls.
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What is provisional voting?
Provisional voting guarantees every qualified and registered voter has the opportunity to vote on Election Day.
When voters arrive at the polling place on Election Day, the election officers check the poll book (a list of all of the precinct's registered voters) to confirm that the voter is registered at the polling place. With provisional voting, a voter whose name is not found in the poll book on Election Day can request a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are distinguished from regular ballots so that the Electoral Board can later investigate the provisional voter's registration status and determine if the vote is to be counted.
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How do I contact you?
The Office of Voter Registration and Elections is located at |
| 9250 Lee Avenue, Suite 1 Manassas, VA 20110 |
|
Phone: 703-792-6470 or Fax: 703-792-6461
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If you still have unanswered questions, or comments on the information provided here, please use VoterInquiry to send us an e-mail. You should receive a response within 24 business hours; however, if you don't hear from us in a timely manner (especially close to Election Day), please call the office.
