YOUTH AND THE VOTE

2026

Official Voting Website: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/

Virginia provides voter information tools to register to vote, check voter registration status, find polling locations, view election deadlines, and learn about early voting and absentee voting. The state also provides information about voter identification, election results, ballot tracking, and opportunities to participate in civic engagement.

Voter Registration and Registration Status: https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation

Find Your Polling Place and Voting Locations: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/polling-place-lookup/

How to Vote: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/

Early Voting Information: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/early-voting-office-locations/

Absentee and Mail-In Voting: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/early-absentee/

Voter Identification Information: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/election-voter-faq/

2026 Election Information and Deadlines: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/calendar/

Election Results: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/resultsreports/election-results/

Track Your Mail-In Ballot: https://ballot.elections.virginia.gov/

Find Your Local Election Office: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/localGR/

Nonpartisan Voter Education (VOTE411): https://www.vote411.org/

League of Women Voters of Virginia: https://lwv-va.org/

Vote VA: https://www.voteva.us/

Vote.org: https://www.vote.org/

Rock the Vote: https://www.rockthevote.org/

Election Protection and Voter Assistance: https://866ourvote.org/

Civic Engagement Opportunities: Virginia residents can get involved beyond voting by volunteering with voter education organizations, attending community meetings, participating in local advocacy efforts, learning about public policy, and helping eligible community members find reliable voting information.

2024

TOP STRATEGIES/INITIATIVES TO INCREASE REGISTRATION & TURNOUT

STATEWIDE POLICIES AND RESOURCES

• VA Board of Elections Registration Rules and Deadlines
• State ID rules and helpline for Virginia.
• Pre-registration starting at 16.
• VA Board of Election website has voting instructions for college students (in-state and out-of-state).

High school Initiatives

• Valid high school student ID accepted for registration.
• League of Women Voters -VA  High School Voter Registration Challenge recognizes high schools with robust voter registration programs.
• Voter registration links for all participating high schools.
• K-12 Capitol Classroom for Virginia teachers and students.

College and University initiatives

• 25 campuses participated in ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge in 2022 including the University of Virginia which had achieved a 68% voting rate in 2020.  Virginia Wesleyan tied for the best Action Plan with its comprehensive plan to promote civic engagement campuswide. 2022 data not yet available.
• UVA’s Youth Leadership Initiative provides materials on civic education for teachers and students including a mock election.
• Students at James Madison University set up Tent Talks on campus to engage students in conversations about issues they cared about and encourage them to take action and vote.
• The fight for racial justice and BLM movement is influential for many young people.
  School shootings stimulated interest in civic participation.
• VIRGINIA CAMPUS VOTER GUIDE