Early Voting Begins September 18 for the November 3, 2026, General Election

Page updated on September 14, 2026 at 9:31 AM
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Early Voting Begins September 18 for the November 3, 2026, General Election

For Immediate Release: September 14, 2026 

On September 18 early voting will begin for the November 3, 2026, General Election in the City of Alexandria. The ballot in Alexandria will include contests for Member of the U.S. Senate, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 8th District and three proposed state constitutional amendments.

All registered voters in Virginia are eligible to vote by mail or in person. Carefully review the information below to determine applicable deadlines, times, and locations.

Voting in Person 

The deadline to vote early in person is Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 5 p.m. In-person early voting hours are as follows:

Office of Voter Registration & Elections (132 N. Royal St., Suite 100)

  • Opens for early voting on Friday, September 18, 2026
  • Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. 
  • Closed October 12th

Weekend and Extended Hours:

  • Sunday, October 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Sunday, October 25, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Monday, October 26, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, October 27, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, October 28, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Thursday, October 29, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Friday (see regular hours above)
  • Saturday, October 31, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke St.)

Open for early voting only during these hours:

  • Sunday, October 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Friday, October 23, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 24, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Sunday, October 25, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Monday, October 26, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, October 27, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, October 28, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.
  • Thursday, October 29, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.
  • Friday, October 30, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 31, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Voting by Mail

Applications to request a mail-in ballot must be received in the Office of Voter Registration & Elections by 5 p.m., Friday, October 23, 2026. Access an application in one of the following ways: 

  • By visiting vote.elections.virginia.gov to submit an application online.
  • By downloading the application available on the City’s Elections webpage.
  • By calling Voter Registration & Elections at 703.746.4050 to request that an application be mailed to you.

Completed ballots must either be returned to the Office of Voter Registration & Elections by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, or postmarked by November 3 and received in the office by noon on Friday, November 6. To vote in person, an application is not required. Applications should not be submitted before voting in person.

If you decide to vote in person after receiving a ballot by mail, bring the mail ballot with you to surrender at the voting location.

Ballot Drop Boxes

Ballot drop boxes will be available at all polling places on November 3, 2026, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. A secure outdoor drop box, under video surveillance, is available in front of the Office of Voter Registration & Elections, 24 hours a day, through November 3, 2026, at 7 p.m. There will also be a drop box at Beatley Library during early voting hours.

Registering to Vote

The deadline for the normal registration period for the November 3, 2026, General Election is October 23, 2026. Following this, the Same Day Registration period begins and runs through Election Day, November 3, 2026. Visit vote.elections.virginia.gov to register, check registration status, or update an existing registration. 

Visit alexandriava.gov/Elections for complete election information, including voter registration requirements, sample ballots, precinct maps and ID requirements.

For more information, contact the Office of Voter Registration & Elections at voters@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.4050.

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact angela.turner@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.4050, Virginia Relay 711.