Can I vote absentee for the Virginia primaries?

Question

Do I need an absentee ballot if I'm going to be away from home during the February primaries? Or can I just show up anywhere in state? Or am I just left out entirely?

Answer 1

I'm not sure what the other answerer is talking about.

Absentee ballots are available to:
"Any person who, in the regular and orderly course of his business, profession, or occupation or while on personal business or vacation, will be absent from the county or city in which he is entitled to vote"

So, yes, you're going to want to vote absentee.

You can apply for one by:
- Contacting your local Voter Registration Office to request an absentee ballot application. You can either return the completed application to your local voter registration office either by mail or fax. The absentee ballot application must be received in your local voter registration office by the Tuesday before election day to receive a ballot by mail.
- Alternatively, you can download The Virginia Absentee Ballot Application (on-line fillable pdf format).You must have the Adobe™ Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view or print either portable document formatted (pdf) application. If you do not have Adobe™ Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can download and install the Adobe™ Acrobat Reader free of charge. After downloading the application form: 1) print the form, 2) read the instructions accompanying the form, 3) fill out the requested information on the form carefully, 4) sign the form and, 5) mail or fax the completed application to your local general registrar's office by the Tuesday before election day to receive a ballot by mail. (Note, if you email or fax the Federal Post Card Application, you must then mail the signed original to your local registrar, as it also serves as your registration application.)

Lots more information and links to the forms:
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Absentee_Voting/Index.html

Happy voting!

Answer 2

Absentee voting is only allowed for military personnel and other qualified voters when allowed through the Election Law.