Absentee Voting By Mail

Online Application

Once you have verified your registration status, you will need the following to complete your vote-by-mail request:

• Social Security Number
• Virginia Driver's License

For additional information, please visit the Virginia Department of Elections' website or contact our office.

Applications for an absentee ballot by mail must be received in the Office of Elections no later than 5 p.m. on Oct. 23.

If you plan to early vote in person, you should NOT submit an application and you do not need to call ahead. 

Paper Application

• Print, complete and sign the absentee ballot application (PDF)
  • The absentee ballot application is available: En Español   |  Tiếng Việt   |  한 국어
     
• Absentee ballot applications are available for in-person visits at county governmental centers such as the Government Center, as well as Fairfax County library branches.
   
• Send the completed application using one of the following methods:
  • Scan then email the application to absenteeballot@fairfaxcounty.gov
  • Mail the application to the Office of Elections at Box 10161, Fairfax, VA 22038
  • Fax the application to the Office of Elections at 703-324-3725
     
• Your application will be denied if you fail to provide the last four digits of your social security number or any other information required to determine your qualification to vote absentee.
   
• The completed application will be approved and processed.
   
• After processing the completed application, your absentee ballot will be placed in the mail to you in three business days.
   
• If you have questions about your ballot, call the Office of Elections at 703-222-0776 (TTY 711).
   
• Applications for an absentee ballot by mail must be received in the Office of Elections no later than 5 p.m. on Oct. 23.

3 Ways to Return Absentee Ballots

1.) DROPBOXES AT EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS
During the dates and times that early voting locations are open, you can return your completed absentee ballot at any location. Voters may go to a location without waiting in any lines of people who are early voting in person. There is also a drop-off box outside the Fairfax County Government Center that's available 24 hours a day. 

2.) POLLING PLACES ON ELECTION DAY
On Election Day, Nov. 3, you can return your absentee ballot at any polling place/precinct from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. when they are open.

3.) BY MAIL
You can return your ballot by mail. Allow ample time for your ballot to reach our office, so please take this into consideration to apply for and mail your absentee ballot back. All ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3.

Video Guidance

Watch this video to learn more about returning ballots. 

Detailed Instructions

While instructions for returning your vote-by-mail are provided with your ballot, read these longer instructions if you want more details:

• Detailed Vote-by-Mail Instructions
• Instrucciones para votar por correo
• 우편 투표 지침
• Hướng Dẫn Bỏ Phiếu Qua Thư

While either waiting to receive a ballot of after you have returned your ballot, you can track its status in two ways:

• View Your Virginia Voter Record
  (This will show when your ballot was received in the Office of Elections and processed.)
   
• Absentee Voting Ballot Tracker through Ballot Scout
  (Ballot Scout tracks your ballot once it is in the domestic mail stream. It does not track the ballot to your mailing address or to our office. According to the state website: Ballot tracking relies on USPS properly scanning the ballot envelope at each stage of the delivery process. If USPS fails to scan the ballot envelope at any point, gaps in ballot tracking may occur. Questions? Contact The Commonwealth of Virginia at 1-800-552-9745.)

Video Guidance