Tomorrow is election day in Virginia. Virginians have an opportunity to take control of the House of Delegates and Senate in Richmond and finally pass real LGBTQ protections.
Here’s your FAQ to all things Election Day 2019.
I want to vote for LGBTQ-supportive candidates. Who are they?
1. The Human Rights Campaign launched a campaign in Virginia this past summer, endorsing 27 pro-equality candidates throughout the state. You may find HRC’s list of endorsements HERE.
2. On the local level, you can see a sample ballot for your area HERE.
Who does Outwire757 endorse? Until the Republican Party (GOP) changes its homophobic national platform to be inclusive, we cannot in good conscience endorse any candidates at any level that are members of the GOP.
What other issues are on the ballot?
To see a sample ballot for your area, visit Ballotpedia.
What hours are the polls open?
Polling hours throughout the Commonwealth are from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. As long as you are in line by 7:00 p.m., you will be able to vote.
How do I know if I’m registered to vote?
1. Access the Virginia Department of Elections citizen portal.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page, click Go. Enter your name, date of birth, last 4 digits of their social security number and their locality and check the certification box. You will now see your voter record.
3. If you do not appear in the system, and you believe you are registered to vote, contact your local registrar.
Where do I go to vote on election day?
1. Go to the Virginia Department of Elections polling place lookup web site.
2. Enter your address. The system will show your polling place.
Do I need to bring proof that I am registered to vote?
No, you do not need to bring proof of your voter registration. All you need to bring is an acceptable photo ID.
Acceptable photo IDs include:
• Virginia driver’s license
• Virginia DMV-issued photo ID
• Valid United States passport
• Employer-issued photo ID
• Student photo ID issued by a school, college, or university located in Virginia (public or private)
• Other U.S. or Virginia government-issued photo ID (including veteran’s photo ID)
• Tribal enrollment or other tribal photo ID issued by one of the 11 tribes recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia
• Virginia voter photo ID card
What is a provisional ballot?
A provisional ballot is a ballot used to record the vote of an individual whose eligibility to vote cannot be confirmed at the polling location on election day by election officials or the general registrar.
If the Officers of Election and General Registrar cannot find your name in the pollbook or there is some other question regarding your eligibility to vote (such as you received an absentee ballot), a provisional ballot is designed to protect your right to vote by allowing you to submit a ballot that will be counted if the underlying question of your eligibility can be resolved.
Additionally, if you go to your polling place and do not have proper photo ID, you will have to vote a provisional ballot. Follow the instructions given to you by the Officers of Election so that you can provide your ID by the deadline, and your vote will be counted.
I was turned away at the polling location and was not offered a provisional ballot. What can I do?
If you were turned away because you were at the wrong polling location, then you will need to vote at the polling location that is associated with the voter registration address.
If you were turned away for any other reason, return to your polling location and ask to vote with a provisional ballot.
How do I file a complaint?
If you have a complaint related to your registration or voting experience, the law provides several options for you to take action.
1. Send a letter to the Virginia Department of Elections
Virginia Department of Elections
1100 Bank Street, First Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
2. File an informal complaint form online.
3. Send an email to info@elections.virginia.gov. Be sure to provide as much information as you can in the complaint. The complaint will be sent to the Department of Elections, and to your general registrar.
