Early, absentee voting in Henrico begins Sept. 23

Henrico voters can begin casting their ballots in the 2022 general election beginning in one week – on Friday, Sept. 23.

It’s a relatively short ballot this year in the county; voters will help decide the outcomes of two U.S. House of Representatives races (in the First and Fourth districts) and will determine the fate of four separate Henrico bond referendum questions, which would authorize the sale of as much as $511.35 million in bonds to fund infrastructure projects for schools, parks, public safety and stormwater drainage projects.

(View a sample ballot here.)

In Henrico, voters may vote early in person for any reason on the following dates:

• from Sept. 23 to Nov. 4 (Monday through Friday each week) at the Western Government Center and Eastern Government Center, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.;
• Saturday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Western Government Center and Eastern Government Center, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.;
• from Oct. 24 through Nov. 4 (Monday through Friday) at the Varina Library between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.;
• Saturday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Varina Library between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Additional details about the voting process – from registering to requesting absentee ballots and voting absentee and in person on Election Day – appear below.

Registering to vote

To find out if you are registered to vote, or to make changes to your address or other information, visit vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/Lookup/status.

If you aren’t yet registered to vote, you may do so through Monday, Oct. 17. To complete an application online at vote.elections.virginia.gov/Registration/DmvLookup.

Or, you may visit the registrar’s office at the Western Henrico Government Center (Room 105 in the Admin Building Annex, 4305 East Parham Road) or at the Eastern Henrico Government Center (Room 100, 3820 Nine Mile Road) between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, to register or update your registration information in person.

If you have questions or need additional information, contact the Henrico Registrar’s Office at (804) 501-4347 or registerandvote@henrico.us.

What’s on the ballot

In Henrico, voters will be able to cast ballots in one of two U.S. House of Representatives races – the First District (featuring incumbent Republican Rob Wittman, Democratic challenger Herbert Jones and independents challenger David Foster) or the Fourth District (featuring incumbent Democrat Donald McEachin and Republican challenger Leon Benjamin) – and also will be able to vote on four separate Henrico bond referendum questions, which would authorize $340.5 million for school projects, $37 million for recreation and parks projects, $83.85 million for public safety projects; and $50 million for stormwater drainage projects. (View a sample ballot here.)

This is the first Congressional election since a redistricting process completed late last year (and required by law every 10 years) moved western Henrico County out of the Seventh District (represented by Democrat Abigail Spanberger) and into the First District and also shifted the boundaries of the Fourth District somewhat.

Absentee voting – in person

If you would like to vote absentee, you may do so – you don’t need to provide any reason.

You may vote absentee in person at the Henrico Government Center, Eastern Henrico Government Center or Varina Library during the dates and times show above.

Voting absentee in person at the registrar’s office works the same as going to the polls in person would. You don’t need to request a ballot in advance – you simply arrive, show a form of accepted identification (find a complete list here) and cast your ballot. (If you don’t have identification with you, you will be permitted to cast a provisional ballot.) The last day to vote absentee in person is Saturday, Nov. 5.

Absentee voting – other forms

Alternatively, you may request that an absentee ballot be mailed to you. To do so, click here.

You also may click here to apply to vote absentee by mail.

The last day to request an absentee ballot is Friday, Oct. 28.

Absentee ballots for those who already have requested them in Henrico will be mailed soon. Your ballot will arrive to you with prepaid return postage, so you won’t need a stamp if you choose to return it by mail. You may track your ballot here.

Once you’ve received your ballot, you have several options. You may:

• complete it and return it by mail (it must be postmarked by Nov. 8 and received by the registrar’s office by noon on Friday, Nov. 11 in order to be counted.

• complete it and return it in person by 7 p.m. Nov. 8 to the Henrico Registrar’s Office at the Western Henrico Government Center (Room 105 in the Admin Building Annex, 4305 East Parham Road) or at the Eastern Henrico Government Center (Room 100, 3820 Nine Mile Road). The office’s normal hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but it will be open until 7 p.m. Election Day.

• complete it and return it by 7 p.m., Nov. 8 to one of five secure drop boxes located outside the Administration Annex building at the Western Henrico Government Center, 4305 East Parham Road; outside the Eastern Henrico Government Center, 3820 Nine Mile Road; inside the Deep Run Recreation Center, 9900 Ridgefield Parkway (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday); inside the Varina Library, 1875 New Market Road (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday); or inside the Tuckahoe Area Library, 1901 Starling Drive (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday).

If you vote absentee, you’ll also be able to track the status of your ballot once you return it by visiting a website shown on the absentee packet.

Voting in person on Election Day

If you plan to vote in person on Election Day – Tuesday, Nov. 8 – you should bring an acceptable form of ID with you. View the list of acceptable IDs here.

To find out where your polling place is located, click here.

If you show up to the polls without an ID, don’t worry – you can still vote. You may sign an ID statement affirming your identity and cast your ballot. If you do not sign an ID statement to affirm your identity, you may vote a provisional ballot. You will be provided instructions to ensure your vote will count.

You also may vote curbside at your polling place on Election Day. Dedicated poll workers will greet voters in their cars, confirm their identities, bring them a ballot and then place it in a collection box. The service primarily is for older or disabled voters who have difficulty walking or who otherwise would have trouble standing in line for a long period of time.

As long as you are in line by 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote.