November 6 Election Day Checklist for City of Alexandria Voters

On Tuesday, November 6, there will be a statewide General Election in Virginia. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Here are six ways Alexandria voters can prepare for Election Day.

1. Consider Absentee Voting

Don't let a long commute, business trip, vacation, disability or illness put your right to vote at risk. Your absentee ballot will be counted after polls close on Election Day and included in the results reported that night.

The deadline to vote in-person absentee is Saturday, November 3, at 5 p.m. There will be two absentee voting locations open in Alexandria from Thursday, November 1, to Saturday.

Office of Voter Registration & Elections, 132 North Royal Street, Suite 100:

• Thursday, November 1, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday, November 2, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, November 3, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Beatley Library, 5005 Duke Street:

• Thursday, November 1, from 1 to 8 p.m.
• Friday, November 2, from 1 to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, November 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2. Find Your Polling Place

On Election Day, you must vote at your designated polling place, so please confirm its location (and your registration) at vote.elections.virginia.gov before you go. You may also call the Voter Registration Office at 703.746.4050 or view the City's current precinct map.

3. Know What's on Your Ballot

Before Election Day, review the sample ballot for your precinct at alexandriava.gov/Elections to help you make informed choices at the voting booth. In Alexandria, the November 6 ballot includes:

• U.S. Senate
• U.S. House of Representatives
• Alexandria Mayor
• Alexandria City Council
• Alexandria School Board
• Two proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution

If you are not sure which School Board District you live in, view the list of Precincts and Voting Districts. Also, be aware that political party identification does not appear on the ballot for local offices (for example, Mayor and City Council).

4. Bring Your Valid Photo ID

Virginia voters must show photo identification (ID) when voting in person.  Examples of acceptable ID include a Virginia Driver's License, U.S. Passport, Military ID, employee photo ID or student photo ID. You can review the complete list of acceptable identification at the Virginia Department of Elections website.

• Voters who do not have acceptable ID may receive a free Voter Photo ID from Alexandria's Voter Registration Office. The office is open Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Voters who do not bring a photo ID when voting may still vote a provisional ballot and have until noon on Friday, November 9, to deliver a copy of their photo ID to the Voter Registration Office or appear in-person to apply for a free Voter Photo ID Card.

5. Don't Be Late

If you are planning to vote late in the day or after work, please remember that you must be in line at your polling place by 7 p.m. or you will not be able to vote.

• Traffic and parking around poll locations may be very busy, especially during peak commuter hours. If possible, avoid the lines and vote mid-day.
• If you are using public transportation, the Metro Trip Planner provides itineraries for trips on Metrorail, Metrobus, and DASH systems, including fare information and travel times.
• Check with area transportation providers to see if they are offering Election Day specials. For example, some ridesharing companies have announced discounts on rides to the polls.

6. View the Unofficial Results

After the polls close on Election Night, Alexandria election officials will begin posting unofficial results on the Virginia Department of Elections website. These results will show the total number of votes cast for each candidate and questions listed on the ballot.

During the weeks following the election, state and local Electoral Boards will canvass the results, make any necessary adjustments, and certify the official results.

For more information, contact Anna Leider, General Registrar, at anna.leider@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.4050.

Absentee Voting Opens in Alexandria

Alexandria's Beatley Library Opens for Absentee Voting

Alexandrians who qualify to vote absentee for the November 6 General Election may cast an absentee ballot in person at the Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke St.) or the Alexandria Voter Registration Office (132 N. Royal St.).

Many Alexandria voters are eligible to vote absentee, for example, if they are:

• Away from Alexandria on Election Day for work, personal business, vacation, or school.
• Working and commuting for 11 or more hours, between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., on Election Day.
• Physically unable to go to the polls because of an illness or disability.
• A caregiver for a confined family member.
• Pregnant.
• A "first responder" (firefighter, law enforcement, emergency medical technician, search and rescue).
• Active duty military (or a spouse or dependent of someone serving in the military).
• An authorized representative of a political party or candidate (serving inside the polling place).

Absentee Voting in Person

To cast an in-person absentee ballot, go to one of the sites listed below during the scheduled hours. The deadline for casting an absentee ballot in person is Saturday, November 3, at 5 p.m.

Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke St.:

• Saturday, October 27, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Monday, October 29, 1 - 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 30, 1 - 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 31,1 - 8 p.m.
• Thursday, November 1,1 - 8 p.m.
• Friday, November 2,1 - 5 p.m.
• Saturday, November 3,10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Office of Voter Registrations and Elections, 132 N. Royal St., #100:

• Saturday, October 27, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Monday, October 29, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 30, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 31, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• Thursday, November 1, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.
• Friday, November 2, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
• Saturday, November 3, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Absentee Voting By Mail

The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot by mail is Tuesday, October 30. Applications must be received in the Voter Registration Office on that day by 5 p.m.

Voters may submit absentee ballot applications online at vote.elections.virginia.gov. They may also get paper applications at alexandriava.gov/Elections, or by contacting the Alexandria Voter Registration Office at 703.746.4050.

What's on the Ballot?

In Alexandria, the November 6 ballot includes U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, Alexandria Mayor, City Council and School Board and two proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution.

For complete information on this election, including sample ballots, voting districts, precinct maps and photo ID requirements, visit alexandriava.gov/Elections.

For more information, contact Anna Leider, General Registrar, Office of Voter Registration at anna.leider@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.4050.

Community Meeting for Seminary Road Complete Streets Project Postponed

A community meeting to share concepts for potential changes to improve Seminary Road for all users, originally scheduled for Thursday, October 18, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., has been postponed until a later date to be determined.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has recently notified the City that Transurban, the I-395 Express Lanes concessionaire, is proposing to evaluate the current use of the Seminary Road high-occupant vehicle-only (HOV) ramp and to consider potential operational changes at the ramp for express lane/high-occupancy toll (HOT) traffic. 

Prior to this new information, staff had performed a traffic study which it used to develop concepts and materials in advance of the Seminary Road community meeting. Those materials will be posted on the project website by Thursday.

However, based on this new information, staff believes it is appropriate to postpone the community meeting until staff can fully evaluate any analysis or proposal by Transurban. Transurban has informed the City that it is beginning a traffic data collection effort in October to inform its proposed analysis. The City intends to closely monitor this effort so that it can actively participate in the process and data-gathering methodology. The City’s Seminary Road project team will also update the existing Seminary Road analysis once any new information comes available. 

As soon as the Seminary Road project team can update its analysis, a new meeting time and location will be announced. Staff will also update the project website as new information comes available.

Seminary Road is a key corridor in the City of Alexandria’s transportation network. The Vision Zero Action Plan, Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, and Safe Routes to School Plan Program recommendations all identify potential safety and mobility improvements for Seminary Road. The City's Complete Streets Policy recommends that staff use repaving as an opportunity to consider and incorporate changes to enhance the safety and convenience of all users.

Visit the Seminary Road Complete Streets study website for more information.