HAMPTON ROADS, Va. — Virginians can head to the polls Tuesday, June 20, to vote for their party’s nominees for seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate.
Up for grabs are all 100 House of Delegates and 40 Virginia State Senate seats, in addition to several local-level races.
You can vote in-person or via absentee, with in-person voting ending on Saturday, June 17, ahead of the Tuesday, June 20 primary election day.
Who can vote?
To register to vote in Virginia, you must meet these criteria, according to the Virginia Department of Elections:
Those without a valid Virginia Driver’s license or state ID can still vote by signing an ID statement affirming their identity or vote via provisional ballot.
For instructions to register to vote and to register,
Who’s running in Hampton Roads?
Here are some of the notable primaries, many of which will likely determine the general election winner (due to voting demographics/lack of general election challenger).
Senate District 18 (Democratic primary)This matchup between longtime incumbents in state Sen. Louise Lucas and state Sen. Lionell Spruill is by far the most publicized in the Hampton Roads area this year. Whoever comes through will be the heavy favorite in the general against either Tony Goodwin or Merle Travis Rutledge, Jr. The two Republicans are facing off in a firehouse primary on June 10.
(Republican primary)The race for the new “competitive” District 94 in the Ocean View/Willoughby Spit area, which brought together voters from the old districts 79, 100, 90, 83, and 89, includes a Republican primary with candidates Amy Chudzinski, Kenneth Gerard O’Brien and Andrew Pittman. The winner will face off with Democrat Phil Hernandez, who lost in the 2019 general election by 881 votes (51.89% to 48.04%) to Del. Rob Bloxom in the old District 100.
(Democratic primary)This primary is between two well-known Norfolk politicians: Andria McClellan and Angelia Williams Graves. Williams Graves, a former Norfolk vice mayor, and councilwoman elected to the former 90th District in the Virginia House is now running for the Virginia Senate in the strongly Democratic District 21, which combines most of the former districts 5 and 6 (nearly all of Norfolk City outside of East Ocean View). She’ll face fellow Democrat and current Norfolk Councilwoman Andria McClellan, who ran in a crowded 2021 field for Virginia lieutenant governor. As of May 15, McClellan had outraised Williams Graves by more than $130,000, .
(Republican primary)Republican Del. Tim Anderson (formerly 83rd House District) is not primarying incumbent Robert Bloxom in the new House 100th District. He’s instead running in the heavily-Republican Senate District 19, which features an entirely new (100%) set of voters for him to try to win over in southern Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. He’s facing two Republicans in the primary, Jeff Bruzzesi and Christie Craig. Myra Payne is the lone Democrat running.
(Republican + Democratic primaries)This brand new open seat is and includes mostly Suffolk voters (51,286), with more from Isle of Wight (8,907) and Franklin (5,919), and a small bit of Chesapeake (321). It’s an entirely different geographical area for former Del. Nadarius Clark, who stepped down from his old, more Democratic-friendly seat in Portsmouth to run in the 84th. He faces Michele Joyce in the Democratic primary. Michael Dillender and Rod Thompson are the Republican candidates.
(Democratic primary)Incumbent Democrat Kelly Convirs-Fowler will face three challengers in District 96, a Democratic-leaning district in southwestern Virginia Beach that includes a large chunk of voters from Convirs-Fowler’s former district 21 (40,965). She’s up against Democrats Susan Hippen, Brandon Hutchins, and Sean Monteiro. No Republican has announced at this time.
(Republican primary) Del. Emily Brewer (previously in House District 64) is facing off with former NASCAR driver Hermie Sadler in the Republican primary for the newly formed Republican-leaning district, which runs from Portsmouth, Suffolk and Isle of Wight countries, all the way out west to Brunswick County. The winner of the primary will face off with Democratic Del. Clint Jenkins.
(Democratic primary)This new district — 91% (southwestern) Virginia Beach and 9% Norfolk has no incumbent, but leans Democratic, Currently, the only two people are running are Democrats in former Del. Alex Askew (in then House District 85) and Richard “Rick” James.
The primary in this heavily Democratic district (mostly formed by Del. Jackie Glass’ old District 89) is essentially the race for delegate (no Republican has announced at this time). It pits together two political newcomers Bonita Anthony and Kim Sudderth. Glass, who won the special election to fill the former 89th in 2022, is now running for reelection in the new House District 93 (representing the interior portions of Norfolk).
Deadlines
You can vote in person at your local registrar’s office and voter registration offices through Saturday, June 17, or by mail via absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be completed and returned to your local general registrar’s office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Virginia’s general election day is on Tuesday, November 7, with early voting starting on Friday, September 22.
You can register to vote, check your registration status, and read more about election dates at the
Voter’s rights
Ask for a new ballot if you want to change your vote before you cast it.
Vote a provisional ballot if your name doesn’t appear on the voter list or you forgot to bring an acceptable ID (& refuse to sign an ID Confirmation Statement).
Vote if you are in line by 7 pm when the polls close.
Accessible voting
There are accessible voting systems at each polling place and early voting location. If you are 65 or older, or have a disability, you can vote from your vehicle at the polls on Election Day or at your local voter registration office before Election Day.
You can bring someone with you who can go in to request your curbside assistance or call the number listed on the sign. You can get help reading or writing from an election officer or your own assistant.
If you are blind, have low vision, or have impaired manual dexterity (e.g. are print disabled), you may vote an absentee ballot using an electronic ballot marking tool.
