1.    What are the rules for keeping voter registration lists current? 
There are several laws regarding voter registration lists that we follow. Read them here.  The Virginia Department of Elections provides additional information here on how Virginia maintains voter lists.

2.    If someone doesn’t vote in elections for many years, will they be made inactive or removed from the voter list? 
No. There is no requirement for a registered voter to vote. 

3.    What is an “inactive voter?” 
This is a voter who we suspect has moved because their election mail has been returned as “undeliverable” or “return to sender” and they haven’t responded to a letter asking them to confirm their address. Alternately, the voter may have appeared in the National Change of Address or other database provided to the Virginia Department of Elections that indicates that they have moved. 

If an inactive voter does not vote for two federal general elections, they will be removed from the voter list.

4.    Can an “inactive” voter become active again?
Yes. They either complete an Affirmation of Eligibility form at the polling place when they go to vote, declaring they are a qualified and registered voter, or they submit a new voter registration form.

5.    How does the Virginia Department of Elections conduct annual address matches for the list of registered voters?
Pursuant to Virginia Code § 24.2-428 and the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Virginia Department of Elections conducts an annual address match of Virginia’s voters against records in the U.S. Postal Service’s National Change of Address (NCOA) registry. The NCOA database catalogs the change of address data submitted by individuals to the USPS when moving. Voters identified as possible movers are sent a confirmation mailing by forwardable mail to their last known Virginia address asking the voter to either verify their residential address or request cancellation of their Virginia voter registration. 

6.    How do address confirmation mailings work?

Address confirmation mailings include a postage prepaid envelope and a form for voters to use to confirm whether their address did or did not change, or to request that the general registrar cancel their registration, as appropriate. 

• Voters who respond to the mailing within 30 days and confirm that their place of residence has not changed or that their new address is in Virginia remain on the voter registration list as active, Virginia-registered voters. 
   
• Voters who do not respond to the notice within 30 days or whose confirmation mailing is returned as undeliverable are classified as “Inactive” on the voter registration record. Inactive voters will be removed from the voter registration list automatically if they fail to vote or update their voter registration address over a period of two federal general elections (2 to 4 years).  

7.    What happens after a voter becomes ‘inactive’ as a result of the confirmation process?
Following each federal general election, the Virginia Department of Elections cancels individuals who have been on the inactive list without voting in two federal general elections.

Voters who have been designated as “Inactive” through the confirmation process may still cast a ballot on Election Day, under certain conditions. These voters are required to sign a statement declaring they are a qualified and registered voter of the precinct at which they are present. They will be added to the pollbook by officers of election and permitted to vote. Their status in the statewide database will be changed automatically to “active.”

8.    Are there any other methods used by the Virginia Department of Elections in the confirmation and cancellation process for the voter lists? 

In addition to the processes outlined above, when the Virginia Department of Elections receives information from federal or state agencies regarding a voter’s qualifications to vote as registered have changed, the local general registrar is notified through the statewide database to take action.

9.    What do I do with election mail I receive that is addressed to someone who does not live at my address?  

Write on the front of the envelope “Return to Sender – Not at this address” and give to the mail carrier to return to us. Alternately, place it (with the note written on the front) inside another envelope and mail to the Fairfax County Office of Elections.

By returning mail to us, you are providing official confirmation that the address for a voter is incorrect or no longer valid and enabling us to take action.  

Only when we receive mail marked undeliverable or “return to sender,” are we able to flag the voter in the statewide database to receive an address confirmation mailing from the Department of Elections. We may only update a voter’s address or immediately remove someone from the voter list after we receive a signed statement or official form from the voter stating they have moved.

Be aware that overseas and military voters use the address of their last residence in Virginia as their voter registration address, regardless of the number of years they have lived overseas. Virginia Code 24.2-456.  So it is possible that you could receive election mail for someone who no longer lives at your address but who is still a qualified voter.

10.    What does the Fairfax County Office of Elections do with undeliverable mail?

When election mail is returned to our office as “undeliverable” or “return to sender” by the Post Office, our voter registration staff make an entry in the voter’s record on the statewide voter database (VERIS) that flags the voter for inclusion in the next address confirmation mailing. Additionally, the front of the envelope is scanned and uploaded to the voter’s record in VERIS.

11.    What does an individual voter need to do to be removed from the list of registered voters?
Individual voters must submit a signed request to have their voter registration cancelled. When a completed official Request to Cancel Voter Registration form is received in our office, the voter’s registration is cancelled. We send a cancellation confirmation letter to the voter’s residence address.

12.    What happens if a registered voter responds “No” to the citizenship question when completing a form for the DMV?
Virginia Code § 24.2-410.1 requires the DMV to ask all customers to identify their citizenship status. On a monthly basis, the DMV shares the list of individuals who responded “No” to the citizenship question with the Virginia Department of Elections. The list is compared to the list of existing registered voters, and any potential matches are provided to the appropriate local general registrar for further review and processing. 

Through the statewide voter database (VERIS), Virginia Department of Elections provides us each month with a list of individuals who responded “No” to the DMV citizenship question. Based on state law, we send these individuals a Notice of Intent to Cancel letter along with an Affirmation of Citizenship form. If an individual does not return a signed Affirmation within 14 days VERIS automatically removes them from the list of registered voters. If the individual is a citizen entitled to vote in Fairfax County and they did not return the Affirmation during the required time period, they may complete a new voter registration form in the future. 

13.    How are deceased individuals removed from the list of registered voters?
Pursuant to Virginia Code § 24.2-404.3 and 24.2-408, the Virginia Department of Elections is required ensure that voters who have died are removed from the voter registration list in a timely manner. The Code of Virginia § 24.2-404.3 requires the Virginia Department of Elections to conduct a match of the voter registration list against the list of deceased persons maintained by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA distributes its death records through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Technical Information Service (NTIS). The Code of Virginia § 24.2-408 requires the Bureau of Vital Statistics (BVS) at the Virginia Department of Health to provide the Virginia Department of Elections a monthly list of those who have died in the previous month. Currently, the BVS uploads a monthly file to the Virginia Department of Elections containing these records. 

 Each month, the data from NTIS and BVS is loaded into the Virginia voter registration system (VERIS). The records are matched automatically against existing registered voters. Any potential matches are provided to the responsible local general registrar for further review and processing. The Department of Elections also receives a death report from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). ERIC also subscribes to the NTIS data and compares Virginia’s data to the SSA data. 

Each month, the Virginia Department of Elections uses VERIS to provide Fairfax County and other localities in the Commonwealth of Virginia the names of deceased individuals on their voter lists for local general registrars to remove from the list of registered voters.

Additionally, the local general registrar’s office may cancel a voter when an death certificate is presented.

VERIS generates a cancellation letter expressing condolences to “The Family of” the deceased former voter for the local general registrar’s office to print and mail.

14.    How are mentally incapacitated voters removed from the list of registered voters?
Pursuant to Virginia Code § 24.2-410, the clerks of the Circuit Courts send Virginia Department of Elections a paper-based monthly report indicating any individuals who were adjudicated mentally incapacitated. Each month, we receive this information from the Circuit Court then we take the appropriate action to remove individuals from the list of registered voters.

15.    How do the political parties, organizations, and candidates get my name and know that I am a voter?
Virginia law allows certain groups and individuals, including political parties, candidates, certain non-profit organizations, and incumbent officeholders, to obtain voter lists and lists of people who voted in a given election for use with political activity.  Virginia Code §24.2-405, 406 

1.    Where can I vote early in person?
For early voting locations and schedules, click here. Unlike election day voting, anyone may vote at any location.

2.    Do I need a reason to vote early in person? 
No. Any voter registered in Fairfax County may vote early. Students registered in Fairfax County may return from school in another county or state to vote early.

3.    Do I need to fill out an absentee application if I plan to vote early in person? 
No, an absentee ballot application is not used for early voting.

However, to vote normally, you will need to provide your name and address and present an acceptable ID, just as you would at your polling place on election day. If you don’t have an acceptable ID, you may complete an ID Confirmation Statement, which serves as an acceptable ID and will allow you to check in and vote routinely. Alternately, you may vote a provisional ballot and provide a copy of your ID to the Office of Elections before noon on the Friday after the election.

4.    If I vote early in person at one of the early voting locations, when is my ballot counted?
 Your ballot is counted when you feed it into the digital scan voting machine. However, the votes on the voting machines are not tallied until election day and are not reported until after 7 p.m. on election night.

1.    How do I return my ballot?
There are four ways to return your absentee ballot:

• By mail or commercial delivery service
• Drop boxes at Fairfax County early voting locations and outside, 24/7, in front of the Fairfax County Government Center
• Fairfax County voting locations on Election Day
• Hand Delivery to the Fairfax County Office of Elections

Click here for more deadlines and other information.

Important!  To be accepted, your ballot must be sealed inside the return mailer, and you must write your full name, voter registration address, signature, year of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number in the fields provided. 

2.    How do I know when my ballot has been mailed?  How do I know if and when my marked ballot is received in your office? 
After your absentee ballot application is approved and after ballots have been printed (45 days before the election), your ballot is mailed within three business days. 

When your ballot is issued and when the Office of Elections receives your marked ballot are indicated on your record in the statewide voter database. To view this, visit your voter registration page on the Virginia Citizen Portal. 

Additionally, you may track your ballot through BallotTrax.

3.    What do I do if I do not receive my ballot? Allow 7 business days for your ballot to arrive after it was mailed. If you do not receive it within this timeframe, contact us at 703-324-4969 (TTY 711) or  AbsenteeVoting@fairfaxcounty.gov. Type “reissue” in the subject line of your email to us and confirm your voter registration address in your message. 

Alternately, you may vote early in person after signing a form affirming that you did not receive your ballot.  On election day you may vote a provisional ballot at your precinct polling location.

If you have mailed your ballot and are concerned it will not arrive before noon on the Friday following election day, you may go to an early voting location or, on election day, to the precinct where you are registered and vote a provisional ballot. If your absentee ballot arrives by noon on the Friday after election day, your provisional ballot will be voided.

The exception to this rule is when Veteran’s Day holiday falls on the Friday immediately following a general election. In this case, absentee ballots are due by noon on the following Monday.

4.    Is it OK to return two ballots inside one return mailer?
Only one voter and one marked ballot per return mailer! If two ballots arrive in one return mailer, both must be voided.

5.     Can someone deposit a ballot in a drop box for a spouse, family member, or friend?
Voters are permitted to place more than one voted absentee ballot in a drop box.

6.    May I vote in person instead?
Yes. If you received your ballot, be sure to take it with you to the polling location. If you don’t have your ballot with you, you will be offered a provisional ballot.  If you do not also return your absentee mail ballot, then staff will recommend to the Electoral Board that your provisional ballot be counted.

7.    What if I forgot to fully complete the form on the back of the return mailer?
We will send you a letter or, if an email address is included in your voter record, an email with instructions on how you may “cure” your ballot envelope. You will have until noon on the Friday after election day to fix the problem so that your ballot may be counted. If the Statement of Absentee Voter on the back of the ballot envelope is not completed correctly, your ballot cannot be counted. Ballots must arrive by the Friday before election day to qualify for “curing.”  Virginia Code § 24.2-709.1 

8. What happens to my return envelope with my name, SSN4, and birth year on it once you remove the ballot?
The empty absentee ballot envelopes are immediately placed in boxes that are sealed, labeled, and stored in a secure location until election night. At that time they are taken by courthouse staff to the Fairfax County Courthouse, along with the county’s voted ballots. Virginia Code §24.2-668 and §24.2-669. Ballot envelopes that arrive after election day are stored securely until they are transferred to the courthouse the following week.

1.    Are absentee ballots always counted? 
Yes! If the Statement of Absentee Voter is fully completed on the return mailer and the return mailer arrives by the deadline, the absentee ballot is counted.  The deadline for receiving the ballot depends on the method used to return it.  Click here for details.

2.    How do I ensure my absentee ballot will be counted?

• Every valid absentee ballot is counted. To ensure your ballot is valid, carefully follow the instructions included in the mailing envelope with your ballot. 
• You must write your full name and residence address where you are registered to vote in Virginia on the Statement of Absentee Voter on the return mailer.
• You must then sign and write your birth year and the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
• Your ballot must be received by the deadline. 

3.    When do you start counting absentee ballots?  
Depending on the number of ballots received, we begin counting absentee ballots at least a week before election day. In this pre-processing operation, envelopes with the Statement of Absentee Voter properly completed are opened, and the ballots are removed for tallying.

Ballots are read and tallied by a digital scan voting machine. Ballots that cannot be scanned are securely stored to be hand-counted. Counted ballots are sealed with tamper-evident tape in labeled boxes and stored securely for transfer to the Fairfax County courthouse.
 

1.    I live overseas. What is the best way to receive a ballot? 

• If you have a Virginia DMV issued ID, submit an online application to Apply to Vote Absentee by Mail

          OR

• If you do not have a Virginia DMV issued ID, submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).
  • Print, sign, scan, and email your FPCA to: AbsenteeBallot@fairfaxcounty.gov.

• To receive your ballot as quickly as possible, check the box to receive your ballot by email. If you select to receive your ballot by mail, consider that the ballot could take weeks to arrive.

• Click here for information for overseas and active-duty military voters (“UOCAVA” voters).

2.    When are ballots mailed and/or emailed to voters living outside the U.S.? 
If you submitted your absentee ballot application earlier than seven weeks before the election, your ballot will be mailed or emailed soon after ballots are printed, about 45 days before election day. 

If you submitted your absentee ballot application within 45 days of the election, your ballot will be mailed or emailed within three business days of your application being approved.

3.    How do I know when my ballot is mailed or emailed?  How do I know if and when my marked ballot is received in your office? 
The dates your ballot is issued and received by the Office of Elections are marked on your record in the statewide voter database. To view this, visit your voter registration page on the Virginia Citizen Portal. 

Overseas voters should not try to track their ballots through the ballot tracking function on the Fairfax County Office of Elections or the Virginia state website. Ballots mailed or returned from international or DPO/APO/FPO addresses cannot be tracked by the USPS.

4.    My ballot has not arrived. What should I do? 
If you selected to have your ballot mailed to you, then the ballot is likely still in the postal system. Overseas mail delivery time is very slow. Once a ballot enters the mail system, we have no control over delivery. You might consider changing the ballot delivery method to “email” by submitting a new application/FPCA.  We can reissue your ballot by mail, however, keep in mind that it will face the same delivery delays, and the time for getting the ballot back to us will be shortened.

Check your junk email folder if you opted to have your ballot emailed to you. If you did not receive it, email us: AbsenteeVoting@fairfaxcounty.gov.

You may submit a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB). This is a backup ballot for overseas voters. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for Virginia. If we receive a state ballot from you, your FWAB will be voided.

5.    May I submit a Federal Write-in Ballot (FWAB) without applying for an absentee ballot?  
Yes. 

6.    My spouse and I both requested absentee ballots by email. One email arrived but the other did not. Can we just print two copies of the emailed ballot materials so both of us can vote? 
You may do this only if your spouse was issued an absentee ballot to be delivered by email.  If one of you requested your ballot delivered by mail, or if one person’s application wasn’t approved, then the ballot from that person will not be counted. 

When two voters provide the same email address on their applications, only one email will be sent, so it will seem that only one person received a ballot. In which case, print two copies of the ballot and voting material.

7.    May I just print copies of the emailed ballot and materials for my friends and family members, so they don’t have to bother to apply for an absentee ballot?
No. Marked ballots returned by people who did not request an absentee ballot are voided upon arrival.

8.    I selected to have my ballot mailed to me. Can you email it to me instead? 
You must submit a new, revised FPCA (Federal Postcard Application) to change the ballot delivery method. Print, sign, scan and email your new FPCA form to: AbsenteeBallot@fairfaxcounty.gov.

9.    My email address has changed since I submitted my FPCA (Federal Postcard Application). Can you email my absentee ballot to another address? 
We can only send a ballot to the address you specify on your application, so you must submit a new, revised FPCA to change the email address. Print, sign, and scan your new FPCA form then email to AbsenteeBallot@fairfaxcounty.gov.

10.    I am concerned your office will not receive my marked ballot before the deadline. What can I do? 
Return your ballot by commercial delivery service, such as DHL, FedEx, or UPS. Allow plenty of time for it to reach us. It needs to be “postmarked” before 7 pm Virginia time on election day and arrive in our office by noon on the Friday following the election.

You may submit a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB). This is a backup ballot for overseas voters. This ballot allows you to cast your vote for candidates in federal, state, and local elections, including ballot measures. Read and follow the instructions for Virginia. The ballot still must reach us by the Friday noon deadline.

11.    May I just email my marked ballot to you?  Can I vote online? 

• No. Virginia requires ballots to be returned in hard copy.
• No. Virginia does not offer online voting.

12.    May I return my ballot by FedEx, DHL, or UPS?  
Yes!  And we encourage overseas voters to consider using such delivery services. Because international mail can be unbelievably slow and unreliable, a commercial delivery service is your best bet.

13.    I’m going to be visiting the States around the time of the election. May I vote in person instead? 
Yes. You will need to vote a provisional ballot. If an absentee ballot is not received from you by noon the Friday after the election, then staff will recommend to the Electoral Board that your ballot be counted.

1.    How are voting machines certified?
Virginia and the federal government each have their own certification requirements for voting machines. See Virginia Voting System Certification Standard.

2.    What is the process for configuring voting machines for an election?
After maintenance—physical cleaning and software reset—is conducted on the machines, a USB flash drive containing the election configuration file is inserted into each machine. The configuration file enables the machine to read and tally a ballot for only that election, rejecting any others. Each USB flash drive is paired to a specific machine using a bar code system.

3.    How are voting machines tested? 
Each voting machine undergoes a strict, structured testing protocol. It is tested for logic (the ability to scan and read a ballot) and for accuracy (the ability to tabulate correctly). Authorized representatives of parties or candidates are invited to observe voting machine testing. 

4.    Are the voting machines connected to the internet or do they have any wireless capability?
No, the DS200 ballot scanners used in Fairfax County do not have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, modems, or other wireless connectivity of any kind.

5.    How are voting machines secured after the logic and accuracy (L&A) test?
Each voting machine is locked and secured with multiple numbered tamper-proof seals. These seal numbers are recorded on a log that the election officers use on election day to confirm that seals have not been changed before they open and use the voting equipment. The machines are stored securely until they are delivered to the polling locations.

6.    What voting information is on the USB flash drive after voting is complete?
The USB flash drives contain the votes cast, the number of ballots cast, and an image of every ballot scanned by the voting machine.

7.    How are USB flash drives from voting machines in polling places secured after the polls close?
After polls close and the voting machines print results tapes, USB flash drives containing voting results are removed from the voting machines by a pair of election officers. The USB flash drives are secured in a special pouch (assigned specifically to a precinct) with a numbered tamper-proof seal.
Immediately after polls close and the voting machines are secured, two election officers drive the pouches containing the USB flash drives to the Fairfax County Government Center, where election officials receive them.

The USB flash drives are logged in by elections staff, who import the data into a secure election computer to produce results reports.

All USB flash drives are turned over to the Clerk of the Court for secure storage.

8.    The secure election computer that is used to produce results reports from the voting machine USB flash drives —is it connected to the internet?
No. The secure election computer is “air gapped” and never connected to the internet or other computers connected to the internet. 
 

​​​1.    Where can I learn more about election security in Virginia?
Learn about the bigger picture of election security measures and protocols from the Virginia Department of Elections.

2.    Where can I read Virginia’s election laws?  
You may read them here.

3.    How do I submit a request for election records under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA)? 
All requests for election records should be submitted through the Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs (OPA). 

In order not to compromise the security of the elections, some records are exempt from release under Virginia Code 24.2-625.1.

1.   What is redistricting?
Every 10 years the U.S. government conducts a national census. Based on population data from the 2020 Census, the Virginia Redistricting Commission and the Supreme Court of Virginia adjusted the boundaries of our U.S. congressional districts, the Virginia Senate districts, and Virginia House of Delegates districts.  Federal law stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations.

Additionally, Board of Supervisor districts and voting precincts were adjusted and approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in Spring 2022.

2.   How did the 2020 Census redistricting affect Fairfax County?
One way or another, everyone in Fairfax County was affected by redistricting. There were changes in boundaries for congressional districts, Virgina senate and delegate districts, Fairfax County supervisor and school board districts, and precincts. The county grew to 265 precincts from 247. You may view maps here.

3.   How do I find my current (redistricted) district and precinct assignments?
Review your voter registration record on the Department of Elections Citizen Portal. This information will always be current and accurate. Information on other sites on the internet may not be up to date. You may also email or call our office.

4. My voter record on Department of Elections’ Citizen Portal shows that I’m in HOD 12.  I looked up HOD 12 on the Virginia legislature website and it shows a delegate who represents a county in southern Virginia. I’m confused!
Not only did the boundaries of Virginia House of Delegates districts change, the numbers assigned to the districts changed as well. Previously, the numbering sequence began in the southwestern part of the state and finished in the east. Now the numbering system begins in Northern Virginia and progresses west and south. 

As of January 1, 2024, the information on the Virginia legislature website will reflect the candidates elected in the November 2023 general election by voters in the newly defined (redistricted) and numbered districts.

5. With the changes in district boundaries, have my Virginia senator and delegate and my Fairfax County supervisor changed?

• Until January 1, 2024, you are represented by the officials elected to serve the districts in which you were assigned prior to redistricting.  For example, if prior to redistricting you were assigned to House of Delegates (HOD) District 35, the delegate for HOD 35 (elected in 2019) represents you through December 31, 2023.
• In the November 2023 general election, candidates for your new (redistricted) state and county districts will be on your ballot. Those elected will assume office on January 1, 2024. 
• In November 2022, voters elected members of the House of Representatives based on the redistricted congressional district borders.

6. Did your office send a notice about redistricting to Fairfax County voters? 
Yes! We mailed a letter to every voter in Spring 2022 to explain redistricting and notify voters’ of their new district and precinct assignments. Additionally, the Department of Elections mailed a redistricting notice to every voter in the summer of 2022.  

Prior to the November 2022 election, each Fairfax County voter was mailed a (green) sample ballot brochure that included a note about redistricting and displayed their current (updated) districts, precinct, and voting location.