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1. How do I register to vote?

Visit the Department of Elections on how to Register to Vote.

2. How do I update my current voter registration?

View your current information and submit changes using the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen portal.

3. How do I vote absentee/early?

See the Department of Elections on how to vote absentee/early. Absentee/Early voting begins 45 days prior to the election and ends the Saturday before the election. Valid identification is required. 

Find out more information on voting absentee.

4. Is a witness signature needed when voting by mail?

Yes, a witness signature is required according to the Code of Virginia.

§ 24.2-707. How ballots marked and returned

On receipt of a mailed absentee ballot, the voter shall, in the presence of a witness, (i) open the sealed envelope marked "ballot within" and (ii) mark and refold the ballot, as provided in §§ 24.2-644 and 24.2-646 without assistance and without making known how he marked the ballot, except as provided by § 24.2-704.

5. How do I track my absentee (vote by mail) ballot?

Track your vote by mail ballot using Ballot Scout. Ballot Scout is an application that tracks domestic ballots sent through the mail using United States Postal Service (USPS) Intelligent Mail barcodes. Ballot Scout was created by Democracy Works, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, and is used here in partnership with your local election office. After you sign up, Ballot Scout will send a text and/or email whenever your ballot moves to a new status. When you sign up, if your ballot has already started traveling, you will not receive notifications for any of the previous statuses. Once mailed, your ballot will typically take between 2-5 days to be delivered. Please note, the estimated delivery date is determined based on a piece of USPS scan data that is received when the ballot has been tagged as out for delivery from your local postal facility, not that it has arrived in your mailbox. 

View a brief video on how Ballot Scout works.

6. Where do I go to vote on election day?

Visit the Virginia Department of Elections polling place lookup tool for your voting precinct.

7. What type of voting equipment is used in Chesterfield County?

Chesterfield County uses Election Systems and Software (ES&S) voting equipment. The DS200 Optical Scanner and ExpressVote. For further information please see the DS200 Security Bulletin.

8. Where can I find voter registration statistics?

Find registration statistics for Virginia voters updated monthly on the Virginia Department of Elections site. 

9. What are the regulations for limited duration campaign signs in Chesterfield County?

Temporary signs, known as limited duration signs in Sec. 19.1-278 of the county ordinance, are easy to procure, inexpensive and simple to install. They can provide an effective way to advertise. There are legal limits on where such signs may be posted in Chesterfield County.

Illegally installed temporary signs in the public right-of-way are subject to removal, citation and/or fines, per Virginia code section 33.2-1224.

Applying for a Permit
Apply for a temporary sign permit by using the Community Development Division's Enterprise Land Management (ELM) Citizen Access Portal. After creating an account in ELM, apply for a limited duration sign permit by following these instructions (PDF). View more information about the ELM portal. Questions? Contact Planning. 

10. How do I file to become a candidate?

Candidates for office must meet certain qualifications and are required to file specific documents in order to qualify to appear on the ballot. Find out if you are qualified.

11. How do I request for my rights to be restored if I am a convicted felon?

Any person convicted of a felony loses their right to vote in Virginia and that right can only be restored by the Governor of Virginia. You can find out more information, check the current status of your civil rights, and apply to have your rights restored through the Secretary of the Commonwealth .

The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Restoration Department can be contacted directly at 804-692-0104.

Once your rights have been restored you must register to vote before you can qualify to receive a ballot at the next election.

12. 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.

If the Officers of Election cannot find your name in the pollbook or there is some other question regarding your eligibility to vote (such as you received an absentee/vote-by-mail 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 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.

13. Who is my Legislator?

You can use the "Who's My Legislator?" service to determine who your representatives are.