Sal Orlando, Staff Writer
Next Tuesday, Nov. 4, is Virginia’s statewide election. Voters will be able to decide the state’s next governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and House of Delegates members.
Virginians must register to vote before casting a ballot. The deadline to register has passed, but voters can still register and vote up to Election Day using a provisional ballot. Virginians do not register by party.
Polls will be open on election day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and as long as voters are in line by 7 p.m., they can still cast their ballots. The Virginia Department of Elections has information on polling locations based on address.
All voters must provide an acceptable form of identification — if a voter does not have any, they can sign an ID confirmation statement or vote using a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are offered to voters whose registrations or qualifications are questioned.
Once a provisional ballot is used, a voter must deliver a copy of their identification to their local electoral board, or sign an ID confirmation statement by Nov. 7 at noon for the vote to count.
The Virginia Department of Elections provides a list of acceptable identification, including a current or expired driver’s license, military ID or utility bill.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot was on Oct. 24. Absentee ballots must be returned to local registrar offices by 7 p.m. on election day.
Early voting is available at local registration offices until Nov. 1.
Your polling place, according to your dorm
On election day, residents living on VCU’s campus at Brandt Hall, the Honors College, Rhoads Hall, West Grace North and West Grace South can vote at the VCU Student Commons.
Students in Ackell Residence Center, Gladding Residence Center and Gladding Residence Center III can cast their ballot at Clark Springs Elementary School in the Randolph neighborhood off of South Harrison Street.
Residents of Grace & Broad will vote at the Institute for Contemporary Art, and those in Broad & Belvidere can vote at George Washington Carver Elementary School off of West Leigh Street.
Why vote?
“The government is based off of our votes,” first-year business student Nathan Poovathukaran said. “We decide our future by how we vote. Sometimes it feels like voting doesn’t make a difference, but it does — even one vote can change an election.”
Poovathukaran casted an early ballot, and said it is important to vote because democracy depends on it.
“I think it’s important to vote because it changes the future of our nation and because it’s a healthy way for citizens to voice their concerns and express their opinions,” Poovathukaran said.
Fourth-year elementary education and teaching student Ryan Dutcher will be voting in person on Election Day. Dutcher said they understand how voting can be confusing, given the layout of government websites.
“It is the most direct say that we have in the way that our country runs, the way that our city runs,” Dutcher said. “Especially right now with what’s going on on a national level, it’s incredibly important that we elect state and local representatives that have our best interests at heart.”