Absentee Voting Resources

• Early voting for the April 21, 2026 Special Election will begin on Friday, March 6th at 9:00 a.m. in the Norfolk Office of Elections.
• In addition to our regular early voting hours, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., we will be open on Saturday, April 11th and April 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• The deadline to vote early for the April 21, 2026 Special Election is 5:00 p.m. Saturday, April 18th.
• Curbside voting is available during early voting for those with a disability or over age 65.

• Request an Absentee Ballot Online

• Vote By Mail Virginia Absentee Application Form

• Track your absentee ballot status

• Request to be removed from the Permanent Absentee List

• The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the April 21, 2026 Special Election is 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 10th.  Please note: Due to mail delivery times, we encourage voters to request and return their absentee ballot as soon as possible.
• To ensure your absentee mail ballot receives a postmark on the day you mail it, please ask a retail associate at your United States Post Office retail counter to hand-cancel it for free.  Please note: USPS recommends to allow at least one (1) week for postmark and mail delivery.  

• 100 Day Notice for Military and Overseas Voters

• Federal Post Card Application (PDF)

1. Absentee ballots are not counted unless it is a close election?  

False - Absentee Ballots are tabulated in the Central Absentee Precinct on Election Day.

2. Virginia has early voting

True - Virginia offers early voting beginning 45 days prior a General Election or Primary Election.  In addition to our regular office hours, the Registrar's office is open the two Saturdays preceding each election for early voting.

3. Mail Voting and Absentee Voting are the same thing

False - Some states offer mail voting which requires the Registrar's office to automatically mail a ballot to each registered voter. Typically, in these states voters will register by Party so that they may receive the correct Primary ballot when Primary Elections occur.  Absentee Voting by mail requires the voter to submit an absentee ballot application form to request a ballot to be sent to them.

4.  A Witness is not required when voting an absentee ballot

True - Effective July 1, 2023, a witness is no longer required when voting an absentee ballot by mail.  In lieu of witness signature, voter's must provide the last four digits of their Social Security Number and Year of Birth on Envelope B, along with their voter name, signature, and current Norfolk registered residence address. 

5. I have to mail back my absentee ballot through the U.S. Postal Service?

False - Voters may return their absentee ballots by USPS mail, courier delivery (DHL, Federal Express, UPS, etc.) or in person to our office (City Hall Building) during office hours.  Each polling place also has a drop box available on Election Day for voters to return their absentee ballots.

6. Someone else may return my absentee ballot to the Registrar or her staff in the Registrar's Office?

False - Voters must return their own ballot in person.  

7. Anyone may deliver a voter’s absentee ballot to an authorized drop-box

True – A voter may request another person to return their voted absentee ballot to a drop-box located at the Registrar’s office or voter satellite location, if available, during early voting -OR- to their polling place within Norfolk on Election Day.  A voter may choose to have another person deliver their ballot via USPS as postage is provided on the return envelope.  

8. My absentee ballot must be delivered by Election Day to be counted

False - Absentee ballots must received in the Registrar's office or at an approved drop-box at a polling place by 7:00 p.m. Election Day -OR- they must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the local Registrar Office by noon on Friday after the election.  If Friday is a holiday with office closure, the deadline for mail ballots will be extended to the following Monday at noon.

9. I have to complete an absentee ballot application for every election I want to vote by mail for

False - You may indicate on the absentee ballot application form that you want to receive absentee ballots for all future elections. Please be sure to indicate Party preference if you would like to receive a ballot for a Primary Election as Virginians do not register by party. 

Effective July 1, 2021, voters who were on the Annual Absentee Ballot Form were moved to the Permanent Absentee Ballot List. This means that ballots will automatically be sent for each election unless the voter "opts out" or has a change in status (such as change of address to another locality).  Primary Election ballots are included if the voter has indicated a Party preference on the previous annual absentee ballot application form.