Virginians head to the polls this fall to pick candidates for Senate and House of Representatives, in addition to weighing in on three proposed constitutional amendments.
Early voting in the commonwealth starts Friday.
Analysts expect results from some House races in Virginia to impact the overall balance of power in Congress. Democrats are hoping to regain control in Congress, while Republicans are aiming to keep their majorities as President Donald Trump approaches the second half of his second term.
The midterms arrive after an unusually busy 2026 voting schedule in Virginia. In April, voters weighed in on a proposed redistricting plan. That special election ultimately pushed this year’s primary elections, usually in June, into August.
Here’s what to know ahead of Election Day.
Early in-person voting: Sept. 18 through Oct. 31
Deadline to register or update voter registration: Oct. 23
Deadline to request mail-in ballot: Oct. 23
Election Day: Nov. 3
Voters can cast ballots during this fall’s early voting period, which is scheduled from Sept. 18 through Oct. 31, at designated polling sites. Information about early voting locations and ballot drop boxes can be found through your general registrar’s office.
Election Day is Nov. 3. Polls on Election Day are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Anyone in line by 7 p.m. will be able to cast a ballot.
Information on where to vote on the day of this fall’s primary election is available on the Virginia Department of Elections’ website.
Anyone 65 or older, or voters with disabilities, are able to vote curbside.
Voters will need to have an acceptable form of ID. Those who leave their IDs behind will have to sign an ID confirmation statement or vote with a provisional ballot.
Provisional ballots will only be counted if you bring a copy of your ID to the local electoral board or sign a confirmation statement.
There’s a list of acceptable forms of ID available online.
Voters can apply for a ballot to be mailed to them through 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23.
Ballots returned by mail have to be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received by noon Nov. 6.
Instead of mailing absentee ballots, voters can bring them to designated drop-off locations. Your local registrar’s office will have information about where to drop off absentee ballots in person.
The deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you is Oct. 23.
Longtime U.S. Sen. Mark Warner is up for reelection this fall. He will face Bert Mizusawa, who won the Republican primary in August. Mizusawa is an Army veteran.
Warner has served Virginia in the Senate since 2009. He’s a former governor and currently is the vice chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and Senate Intelligence Committee.
Virginia has 11 congressional districts, and voters will weigh in on a number of races that experts suggest could impact the overall balance of power in the House of Representatives.
An asterisk denotes the incumbent.
Rob Wittman* (R), Shannon Taylor (D)
Virginia’s first district includes parts of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover counties, among others. Shannon Taylor, the longtime commonwealth’s attorney in Henrico, is trying to unseat Republican Rep. Rob Wittman. This is one of the races experts are expecting to be the most competitive in the commonwealth
Jen Kiggans* (R), Elaine Luria
Virginia’s second district includes Virginia Beach City, parts of Chesapeake City and Suffolk City, among others. Former Rep. Elaine Luria won the primary and will now compete with incumbent Jen Kiggans for the chance to secure her old seat. Analysts expect this race to be among the most competitive in the commonwealth.
Matthew Baker and Bishop Staten are also running.
Bobby Scott* (D), Edwin Rivera Jr. (R)
Virginia’s third district includes Norfolk City, Newport News City and Hampton City, among others. Makiba Gaines and Steve Woll are also running.
Jennifer McClellan* (D), Robert P Murray (R)
This district includes Richmond city and parts of Chesterfield and Henrico counties, among others. Joan E Bell is also running for the seat.
John McGuire* (R), Tom Perriello (D)
This district includes part of Albemarle County, Lynchburg City, Pittsylvania city and Charlottesville City, among others. Cooke Costa Harvey is also on the ballot.
Ben Cline* (R), Beth Macy (D)
This district includes Frederick County, Roanoke City and Rockingham County, among others.
Eugene Vindman* (D), Douglas Ollivant (R)
Vindman, a first-term congressman, will face Ollivant, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. Analysts expect the race to be competitive. Vindman won the seat vacated by now-Gov. Abigail Spanberger. This district includes parts of Prince William County, Stafford, Spotsylvania and Culpeper counties, among others. Alaha Ahrar, Josh Ertle, Taner Lopez and Randall A Terry are also running.
Don Beyer Jr.* (D), Tony Sabio (R)
This district includes part of Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Alexandria City and Arlington County. Shelly Arnoldi and Timothy S Sharman are also running.
Morgan Griffith* (R), Joy Powers (D)
This district includes Montgomery County, Franklin County and Washington County, among others.
Suhas Subramanyam* (D), Dave Beckwith (R)
This district includes Loudoun County, Fauquier County, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, Rappahannock County, and parts of Prince William and Fairfax counties. Ahsen Mujeeb Malik is also running.
James Walkinshaw* (D), Arthur Purves (R)
This district features Fairfax City and part of Fairfax County. Dianne Blais is also running.
Virginia voters will get to weigh in on three proposed constitutional amendments. One proposal would automatically restore voting rights to people convicted of a felony but who have finished their sentences.
Another would enshrine reproductive rights in Virginia’s constitution. And a third, if approved, would do away with a ban on same-sex marriage in Virginia’s constitution.
Several Northern Virginia communities are putting additional questions, largely about spending, before voters. A list is available on the Virginia Board of Elections website.
Northern Virginia special state election
A special election is planned in House of Delegates District 20, which includes Manassas City, Manassas Park City and parts of Prince William County.
Democrat Sonia Ruth Vasquez Luna is facing Republican Nathaniel Fritzen.
Del. Michelle Maldonado stepped down at the end of May for family reasons.
In Arlington, voters will weigh in on races for county and school board members.
There are mayoral and town council races in the Towns of Lovettsville, Leesburg and Purcellville.
Similarly, there are mayoral and town council races on the ballot in Fairfax City and the Town of Herndon.
Voters in Dumfries, Haymarket, Quantico and Occoquan will also have hyperlocal races on their ballots.
More information about those races is available online.
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