Virginia early voting starts today. Here’s what we’re watching

By Alexandra Hutzler

Voting stickers at Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy during the Virginia primary election, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

Early voting for the 2026 general election starts on Friday across Virginia after the state has taken steps to ease voting for students and those convicted of felonies.

Democracy Docket is tracking all the top issues, including what Virginians need to know when casting their ballot and what to be on the lookout for this election cycle.

After redistricting confusion this spring, which culminated in the Virginia Supreme Court throwing out the results of a special election in which voters approved a new map proposed by Democrats, the state will use the same congressional map as in years past.

Voters will also have the chance to weigh in on major ballot measures. One would amend the state constitution to allow people who’ve served their time for felony crimes to have their voting rights automatically restored upon release. 

Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s already restored voting rights for 100,000 people, but an estimated  200,000 to 250,000 have been disenfranchised due to past felonies.

There are also some voting changes to be aware of this year.

It’s now easier for college students to register to vote, after a settlement between the NAACP Virginia State Conference and the Virginia State Board of Elections. The change should ensure fewer applications are rejected. 

In another voting rights win, Virginia agreed to halt voter purges near elections, which means it won’t remove people from the rolls within 90 days of the election.

But President Donald Trump’s administration has also targeted Virginia.

The Justice Department sued Virginia after it refused to turn over unredacted voter registration records, including voters’ full names, addresses and either their driver’s license numbers or the last four digits of their Social Security numbers. A federal judge dismissed the government’s lawsuit seeking records, though the administration appealed that decision in July.

During the primaries, the Justice Department sent federal election monitors to Virginia and a handful of other states.

Virginia’s early voting period runs until Oct. 31. Voters can find more information on polling locations, ID requirements and more on the Virginia Department of Elections’ website.