What to Know Before You Vote

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Your polling place name and address are listed on the voter registration card you received in the mail. You can also check online https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation or call your Falls Church City Office of Voter Registration and Elections at 703-248-5085. Polls are open at 6:00 AM and close at 7:00 PM on Election Day. It is best to arrive early but as long as you are in line by 7:00 PM, you will be allowed to vote. Bring your photo ID with you when you come to the polls.

*For your vote to count, you need to be at the correct polling place. The Election Board is required to post an Official Sample Ballot at each polling place on Election Day. You are entitled to a demonstration of the voting equipment. There is a demonstration officer at your polling place who is there to help you with the machines. Your child 15 years old or younger may go into the voting booth with you.

VOTING PROCESS

• Check in with your Elections Officer, provide your name & address, & show your photo ID.
• If you are not on the voter list or didn’t bring a photo ID, you will be informed that you can vote a provisional ballot. If you are not so informed, request it.
• Get your ballot. Check that it is the correct ballot for your district.
• Go to the voting booth with your ballot. On the paper ballot, mark your selection by carefully and completely filling in the oval next to your selection(s).
• Cast your ballot. With paper ballots, this is done by inserting your ballot into a scanner, which will record your vote.

PROVISIONAL BALLOT

You have the right to vote a provisional ballot if:

• Your registration status cannot be verified either by the Elections Officer at your polling location, or the voter registrar at the Falls Church City Office of Elections.
• You cannot provide the required ID.

You may be present when the Electoral Board makes the decision about whether to count your provisional ballot. If you voted a provisional ballot because you did not present the required ID, you have until noon on Friday after the election to provide a copy of your required ID.

VOTER-IDENTIFICATION ACCEPTABLE IDs

You must present valid photo identification to vote in person. The following are acceptable forms of voter identification.

• Virginia’s driver’s license
• United States Passport or Passport Card
• Identification issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia, one of its political subdivisions or the United States (e.g., passport, military ID, naturalization certificate)
• Student photo identification card issued by a public or private high school, college, or university located in the Commonwealth of Virginia
• Employee identification card containing your photograph and issued by your employer
• Photo ID card issued by Virginia DMV or Department of Elections
• Tribal enrollment or other tribal ID issued by one of the 11 tribes recognized by Virginia
• Nursing home resident ID, if issued by a government facility

OBTAINING A FREE VOTER ID, IF NEEDED

If you do not possess any of the above forms of identification, you are eligible to obtain a FREE Virginia voter-photo ID.

1. Contact the Falls Church City Office of Voter Registration and Elections 703-248-5085 and tell them that you need a Virginia Voter ID.
2. Go to the Falls Church City Office of Voter Registration and Elections located in the Falls Church City Hall, 300 Park Ave., Rm. 206C, Falls Church, VA. If you are unable to travel to the Office of Registration and Elections, you may contact the Falls Church City Democratic Committee by email at fallschurchdems@gmail.com and ask for help in arranging transportation for you. Include your name, address, and telephone number.
3. Your photo ID will be processed and sent to you through the mail.
4. If you do not receive your Virginia Voter ID within the next several weeks, please contact the Office of Voter Registration and Elections.