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Absentee Voting

Registered voters who will be away from Fairfax County on Election Day, or who are unable to go to the polls because of illness or disability, may vote by absentee ballot. See Am I Eligible to Vote Absentee. Eligible voters may vote in-person prior to election day or apply to have an absentee ballot mailed to them. The absentee voting schedule, including in-person dates, times, locations and deadlines will be made available prior to each election.

Use our Fillable Online Absentee Ballot Application Form to enter your information on the screen, print, sign, and then return! OR
Print a blank Absentee Ballot Application Form to enter your information by hand, sign, and then return!

How do I apply for a ballot by mail?

You must complete an Absentee Ballot Application and mail it to the Office of Elections, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323, Fairfax, VA 22035 or fax it to us at (703) 324-3725. Absentee ballot applications are available at county government centers and libraries.

You may choose to use our new fillable online absentee ballot application form. This form allows you to complete your absentee ballot application form online. Once you have entered the required information into the form, you must then PRINT the form, SIGN the form and then RETURN the form either by mail to the address listed above, or by fax at the number listed above.

YOU MUST SIGN THE APPLICATION BEFORE YOU RETURN IT.

The online fillable absentee application form requires that you have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat reader installed on your computer, use the link below to download the program.

You may also choose to print a blank absentee ballot application (pdf 158kb). Adobe Acrobat Reader is required. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat reader installed on your computer, use the link below to download the program.

Whichever method you use to submit an absentee ballot application, be sure to complete all information on the form, including the reason you need to vote absentee, the address where you want the ballot mailed, your full name, home address, and the last four digits of your social security number.

YOU MUST SIGN THE APPLICATION BEFORE YOU RETURN IT.

 If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, click on the image below to go to the Adobe Systems download site. Download and install the program according to the instructions. Adobe Acrobat Reader is free and is distributed by Adobe Systems.

 

If you have any problems, please call 703-222-0776.

Am I eligible to vote absentee?

You may vote absentee, either by mail or in person, if you are unable to go to the polls on Election Day because you ...

• are a student or the spouse of a student attending a school outside Fairfax County
• will be away from Fairfax County on business
• will be working and commuting for 11 or more hours between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• will be away from Fairfax County on personal business or vacation
• are unable to go to the polls because of illness or disability (see below for physical disability or illness)
• are the primary caretaker of a confined family member
• have a religious obligation
• are confined awaiting trial
• are confined having been convicted of a misdemeanor
• are an election official
• are on active duty in the military outside Fairfax County
• are the spouse or dependent residing with a member of the military outside Fairfax County
• are an overseas citizen* whose most recent United States residence was in Fairfax County

*ATTENTION OVERSEAS CIVILIAN VOTERS
Virginia Election Law requires that a civilian who has voted by absentee ballot as a "Temporary Overseas Voter" must reregister when they return to Fairfax County. Civilians who fail to reregister, when they return from overseas to live in Fairfax County, will not be eligible to vote in the next election. Returning civilians must complete and mail in a Virginia Voter Registration Application before the registration books close for the next election.

Active-duty Military and Overseas Citizens

If you are:

• a member of the military on active duty, or an eligible spouse or dependent
• a U.S. citizen temporarily residing outside the U.S.
• a U.S. citizen overseas by virture of employment or accompanying spouse or dependents
• other U.S. citizen residing outside the U.S.

You may be eligible to receive an absentee ballot by completing the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). For specific information, including the on-line version of the FPCA, see the Federal Voting Assistance Program (www.fvap.gov) website. Or, call us at 703-222-0776.

Disability and Illness

Virginia Election Law 24.2-703.1 provides that any voter who is eligible for an absentee ballot ... because of a physical disability or physical illness and who is likely to remain so disabled or ill for the remainder of the calendar year shall be eligible to file a special annual application to receive ballots for all elections in which he is eligible to vote in a calendar year.

If you wish to receive an absentee ballot by mail for all elections in which you are eligible to vote, complete Parts A, B, C, and D of the Annual Application for an Absentee Ballot due to Physical Disability or Illness.

Have your physician complete Part E of the Annual Application. Mail the completed application to the Office of Elections, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323, Fairfax, VA 22035-0081 or fax it to us at (703) 324-3725.

You will be sent absentee ballots for all elections in which you are eligible to vote. In December of every year you will be sent another Annual Application to be completed in order to request ballots for the upcoming election year. This second Annual Application does not need the physician's statement since we would already have a physician's statement on your first annual application.

You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader program installed on your computer to print the Annual Application for an Absentee Ballot due to Physical Disability or Illness. If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, click on the image below to go to the Adobe Systems download site. Download and install the program according to the instructions. Adobe Acrobat Reader is free and is distributed by Adobe Systems.

If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, click on the link below to print the Annual Application for an Absentee Ballot due to Physical Disability or Illness.

Print the Annual Application for an Absentee Ballot due to Physical Disability or Illness (pdf, 137k)

You may also call 703-222-0776 to have an application mailed to you.

Commuting and Working on Election Day

If you will be commuting and working for 11 or more hours, between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., on Election Day, you may qualify to vote by absentee ballot.

When will I get my ballot?

The Electoral Board begins mailing ballots 45 days before each general election. Ballots are mailed the next business day after the absentee ballot applications are received. Please apply early enough to allow time to get your ballot and return it by Election Day. Call or e-mail us if your ballot doesn't arrive within a reasonable time.

How is my mailed ballot counted?

Mailed absentee ballots are counted on Election Day in the Central Absentee Precinct (CAP). Fairfax County uses optical scan equipment to count paper ballots. Please follow the marking instructions on your ballot and return it in the envelopes provided. Be sure to fill in ALL the information on Envelope B, including; your full name, legal address, your signature, your witness's signature and a date. Anyone, including your spouse, family member or neighbor, may serve as your witness.

If you have more questions . . .

E-mail or call us at 703-222-0776. However, you cannot request an Absentee Ballot by an e-mail. You must first submit a completed Absentee Ballot Application.