It can be hard to pick out official guidance from the avalanche of information flooding social media, news channels and other radio and television, podcasts and your friends. Stafford’s citizens will have the opportunity to vote on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. There are places to find official information: the Virginia Department of Elections; and the Stafford County Voter Registrar. Other groups may print up their version of “official election information,” but these two entities are the officials, and their websites and offices have the most reliable information.

“We ask that you review the information on our website and if you have questions, reach out to us. It is as simple as that,” said Stafford County Voter Registrar Anna Rainey. “We have worked to come up with multiple options for voters so they can feel safe when they vote and know their vote counts.”

There are two ways to vote - absentee and in person. The information below gives more details about each choice.

Absentee

Who can vote absentee?

Anyone can vote absentee. After new legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly went into effect July 1, 2020, Virginia voters no longer need an excuse to vote absentee. Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot or go vote early in person. Absentee ballots will begin being mailed out on September 18, the same day early voting begins in all localities throughout the Commonwealth.

How do you request an absentee ballot?

Voters may request an absentee ballot safely and securely by completing a request for an absentee ballot from the Voter Registrar or the Virginia Department of Elections website, both of which are listed below. You may also request an absentee ballot by contacting either office by phone. The last day to request an absentee ballot is October 23, 2020.

How do you return an absentee ballot?

You may deliver the ballot by hand to the Voter Registrar’s Office. You can mail it back using the envelope with prepaid postage that arrived with the ballot. It is essential to use that envelope as it has a built-in barcode that allows you to track your ballot as it goes through the system. You may deliver your ballot to a secure drop box located outside the Registrar’s Office and the satellite voting location located at the Stafford Airport ONLY during working hours. There will also be drop boxes located at each precinct on voting day in which you may drop your ballot.

Can I vote absentee in person?

Yes. You may vote in person in the ABC Conference Room at the Government Center or the satellite location at the Stafford Airport on September 18 through October 31, 2020.

Will my absentee ballot count?

Yes. Virginia law allows officials to pre-process ballots as they come in before the election. It may take a few days to learn who won the election.

Voting in Person

Voters may vote on election days in their regular precincts from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Useful Addresses

• Voter Registrar Office – George L. Gordon, Jr., Government Center, 1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA 22554, www.staffordcountyva.gov/registrar, (540) 658-4000
• Voter Registrar Satellite Office – Stafford Regional Airport, 95 Aviation Way, Fredericksburg, VA 22406. The airport may be accessed via Centreport Parkway from the south and American Legion Road to Centreport Parkway from the north.
• Virginia Department of Elections, www.elections.virginia.gov, (800) 552-9745.