March 2, 2026

Vote 2026: Early Voting for March 17 and April 21 Special Elections Begins on March 6

Voters will cast their ballots for a proposed state constitutional amendment and a representative for Virginia House of Delegates District 98. 

Vote early here yard sign

Two special elections will be taking place at the same time. Voters should be aware of deadlines for each election, along with where and when they can cast a ballot. 

Special Election: House of Delegates District 98 

A special election will be held to elect a representative for District 98 in the Virginia House of Delegates. Please note that you will only be eligible to vote in this election if you are a resident of District 98.

Who's on the Ballot?

The following candidates will be on the ballot: 

  • Cheryl Smith, Democratic Party candidate 
  • Andrew Rice, Republican Party candidate 

Where and When to Vote

Early in-person voting for the District 98 special election will take place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Friday, March 6, at the Voter Registrar’s Office, 500 Studio Drive.

Saturday voting will be available on March 7 and March 14 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Voter Registrar’s Office.

Special Election: Proposed Constitutional Amendment 

A statewide special election will be held for voters to determine if a constitutional amendment, proposed by the General Assembly, shall be enacted. The referendum question will appear on the ballot as: 

“Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia's standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?” 

Where and When to Vote

Early in-person voting for the proposed constitutional amendment will take place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Friday, March 6, at the Voter Registrar’s Office, 500 Studio Drive.

Satellite locations will be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, April 11-18, at the following locations: 

  • Great Neck Recreation Center, 2521 Shorehaven Drive 
  • Seatack Recreation Center, 141 S. Birdneck Road 

Registering to Vote

The deadline to register or update an existing registration is different for each election: 

  • District 98 Special Election: March 10 
  • Proposed constitutional amendment deadline: April 14 

Eligible individuals may register to vote using one of the following methods by the deadline for a given date. 

Same-day registration will continue for the remainder of the early voting period and the day of the election. Individuals who opt to register and vote on the same day will be given a provisional ballot and instructions to confirm their registration. More information about same-day registration may be found on the Virginia Department of Elections website. 

Know Your District 

To determine if you live in District 98, voters may use the Virginia General Assembly’s “Who’s my Legislator?” tool.  

Voting by Mail 

Individuals who would like to vote by mail may complete an online application with the Virginia Department of Elections. Paper applications should be returned to the Voter Registrar’s Office by email at grabsentee@vbgov.com or by mail to:  

Director of Elections/General Registrar 
City of Virginia Beach 
Voter Registration & Elections 
P. O. Box 61127
Virginia Beach, VA 23466-1127  

Vote-by-mail ballots returned in person must be received by the Registrar’s Office no later than 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, for the District 98 Special Election and no later than 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, for the proposed constitutional amendment special election.

Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the Registrar’s Office no later than noon the Friday after the election.

Don’t Forget Your ID 

When casting a ballot, be sure to bring an accepted form of identification. Any voter who does not present an acceptable identification must sign a statement, subject to felony penalties, that they are the named registered voter for their ballot to be counted. 

Voters who do not sign the statement or present an accepted form of identification must vote with a provisional ballot. 

Important Dates and Deadlines 

  • March 6: First day of early in-person voting for House District 98 special election and the proposed constitutional amendment referendum. 
  • March 6: Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the House District 98 special election. 
  • March 10: The last day to register to vote or update an existing registration for the District 98 special election. 
  • March 14: Last day to vote early for the District 98 special election. 
  • March 17: Vote-by-mail ballots returned in person for the District 98 special election must be received by the Voter Registrar’s Office by 7 p.m. 
  • March 20: Vote-by-mail ballots returned by mail must postmarked on or before March 17 and received by the Voter Registrar’s Office by noon. 
  • April 10: Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the proposed constitutional amendment special election. 
  • April 14: Last day to register to vote or update an existing registration for the proposed constitutional amendment special election. 
  • April 18: Last day to vote early for the proposed constitutional amendment special election. 
  • April 21: Vote-by-mail ballots returned in person for the proposed constitutional amendment special election must be received by the Voter Registrar’s Office by 7 p.m. 
  • April 24: Vote-by-mail ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before April 24 and received by the Voter Registrar’s Office by noon. 

For more information about voting in Virginia Beach, visit Voter.VirginiaBeach.gov.

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