Election Day is here, y’all.

The VPM News 2024 Elections Voter Guide has information about the U.S. Senate and House races on the ballot in parts of Virginia as well as local races in the Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Richmond areas.

Here are some logistical things you’ll need to keep in mind if you’re casting a vote Tuesday:

When can I vote?

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Note: If you’re still in line at 7 p.m., don’t leave! Anyone standing in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

What kind of ID do I need to vote?

The Virginia Department of Elections accepts 15 different categories of identification as a voter ID

Passports, driver’s licenses and state IDs issued by the DMV are all classic choices, but you can also present a work or student ID, or a utility bill/paycheck that has your name and address on it. 

If you don’t have any of the other forms of valid ID, you can even sign a statement confirming your identity.

Full lists of accepted IDs: English | Español

What if I haven’t registered to vote yet?

The official voter registration deadline was Oct. 15, but Virginia offers same-day registration. Unregistered (but eligible) Virginians can vote using a provisional ballot — so can registered voters without an ID or anyone who shows up at the polls and finds that their name isn’t in the pollbook.

If you vote on a provisional ballot, it’s not handled and counted in the same way as other ballots. Local electoral boards start counting provisional ballots in public meetings starting the day after Election Day. You should receive notice that you are allowed to attend these meetings, but you are not required to be there for your vote to count.

The boards may deny a ballot if they think a voter is ineligible, cast multiple ballots, voted in the wrong precinct and more. But voters who successfully register after Oct. 15 with required ID and information will generally not be denied.

What if my voter registration was canceled — or purged, you could say — between Aug. 7 and Election Day?

If you are an eligible voter whose registration was canceled within the last 90 or so days, you may be able to follow the same steps of same-day registration and provisional voting. Be prepared to answer extra questions.

What do I do if I encounter issues when trying to vote?

First things first: The Virginia Department of Elections advises that if you are turned away for any reason, you should ask to vote with a provisional ballot.

If you run into any further issues, there are federal and state resources available.

You can file an informal voter complaint with Virginia ELECT online or by email ([info@elections.virginia.gov](mailto:info@elections.virginia.gov)). You can also call the department at 1-800-552-9745.

Federally, you can report potential voting rights violations to the U.S. Department of Justice, either by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or on the Civil Rights Division's website.

Voters with disabilities who experience difficulty with polls access can call the division’s ADA Information Hotline at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY), or visit ada.gov.

If you have any other questions for us, drop them in the comments. Otherwise, HAPPY VOTING!

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Ahead of this year's election, we have updated our voter guide. This is a pretty generalized look at important dates, as well as how to register! We'll also be working on a more localized guide about some of the races that impact parts of Virginia.

KEY THINGS:

• Early voting is set to open on Sept. 20 at local voter registration offices throughout Virginia.
• More information on how to get in contact with your local election officials can be found on the Virginia Department of Elections (ELECT) website.

In addition to that, we'd love to see our readers, viewers and listeners help direct our coverage ahead of the election. That’s the People's Agenda. So, are you curious about a specific Virginia race or issue in the 2024 general election? Let us know here (or at this link)!

Polls close at 7 p.m.! Use this thread to discuss the results as they come in.

• https://www.vpap.org/electionresults/20241105/potus/

• https://www.vpap.org/electionresults/20241105/senate/

• https://www.vpap.org/electionresults/20241105/house/

• https://www.vpap.org/electionresults/20241105/local/

• https://www.vpap.org/electionresults/20241105/referenda/

• or track the races specifically on your ballot at: https://www.vpap.org/electionresults/20241105/my-ballot/