Vote 2026: Four Things to Remember Before you Vote in the Aug. 4 Primary Elections

Tuesday, Aug. 4, is Election Day for Primary Elections for two federal races. Here are a few things to remember before you vote.

Bring Your ID 

Virginia law requires all voters to provide an acceptable form of identification before they can cast a ballot. Some examples include: 

• A current or expired Virginia driver’s license or Virginia-issued ID card 
• U.S. military ID 
• U.S. passport or passport card 
• A valid student ID, containing a photograph, issued by a public or private institution of higher education in the U.S. 

A complete list of accepted documents is available on the Department of Elections website.  

Know Where to Vote 

Voters should head to their assigned precinct to cast a ballot in the upcoming special elections. 

Polls will be open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4. If you are in line by 7 p.m., you will be able to vote. 

Not sure where to go? You can find your polling place through the Virginia Department of Elections’ Citizen Portal. You’ll need to provide your first and last name, date of birth, last four digits of your social security number and the locality that you’re registered in. 

Voters in Precinct 75 who normally vote at Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church will cast their ballots at John B. Dey Elementary School, 1900 N. Great Neck Road. This change is temporary and only for the Aug. 4 Primary Election. The usual location for Precinct 75 is unavailable for use in the August election, which required the change of venue. 

Voters in Precinct 49 who vote at John B. Dey Elementary School are not impacted by this change. Signs and election officials will be present to direct individuals to the correct location within the school. 

Please note: While you can vote early at the Voter Registrar's Office ahead of the election, it will not be a polling location on Election Day. Please go to your assigned precinct to cast your ballot. 

Same-day Voter Registration is Allowed in Virginia

The General Assembly previously approved legislation that allows voters to register in-person at any time, including Election Day. Same-day registrants will vote with a provisional ballot, which is subject to approval by the local electoral board before it’s counted.  

After you vote, you will be given a notice with a date, time and location where the Electoral Board will review your provisional ballot. You are entitled to attend this meeting, but your presence is not required for your vote to be counted. 

During this meeting, your voter registration application will be reviewed, and if approved, your vote will be counted. If your application is not approved for any reason, you will receive written notification from the General Registrar.  More information about same-day registration is available on the Department of Elections’ website. 

Individuals who will be 18 years old by the time of the November general election are eligible to register and vote in this election. 

What’s on the Ballot? 

A primary election is being held to choose the candidates who will appear on the General Election ballot in November for the Democratic and Republican parties for the following races. 

Please note that primaries will only take place if two or more candidates qualify to be on the primary ballot. If only one candidate qualified, that candidate automatically becomes the party’s nominee and qualifies to appear on the November General Election ballot. 

Federal Elections on the Ballot 

• U.S. Senate (Republican Party candidates) 
• U.S. House of Representatives, District 2 (Democratic Party candidates) 

All eligible voters in Virginia Beach may participate in this election. The Second Congressional District covers all of Virginia Beach, and the U.S. Senate seat covers all of Virginia. 

Voters will be asked to select a party’s ballot when they check in and can only participate in one election. Registered voters in Virginia do not select a party affiliation and are free to vote on a ballot of their choosing. 

There are no state or local races in this Primary Election. 

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

• Voting Information