NORFOLK, Va. — With early voting for Virginia's 2024 presidential primary underway, many people are wondering if they vote in the Republican or Democratic contests, or both.
The primary election will take place on Tuesday, March 5, but early voting kicked off Jan. 19. Virginia is one of 15 states, along with American Samoa, participating in Super Tuesday, when the highest number of states hold presidential primary elections all on the same day.
Do I have to register by political party for 2024 Virginia primaries?
No, because Virginia has open primaries and doesn't have party registration. Anyone registered to vote can vote in either primary, but no one is allowed to vote in both primaries.
When you go to vote, you'll pick which primary you want to participate in and vote accordingly. Here are the candidates on the Democratic and Republican primary ballots.
How to register to vote in Virginia's presidential primaries
The easiest ways to register to vote are online through the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal or at your local voter registration office.
To be eligible for voter registration, you have to be a resident in the state, 18 years old or older, not be registered in another state and not currently declared mentally incompetent by a court of law. Those who have been convicted of a felony must have had their right to vote restored.
People who are 17 years old now but will be 18 by the presidential election, will be permitted to register in advance and vote.
Here are some deadlines and other important dates for the primary election:
- Last day to register to vote or update existing registration: Feb. 12, but voters can register afterward and vote by provisional ballot.
- Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot: Feb. 23; the local voter registration office must receive it by 5 p.m. that day.
- Voter registration offices open for early voting: Feb. 24
- Last day of in-person early voting: March 2