Election Day is in November, but early voting starts this week in Virginia.
Why it matters: The presidential race is getting all the headlines, but Richmonders also vote this year in Congressional races, plus for a new Richmond mayor, city council people, and school board members.
- Virginians will also vote on an amendment to the state constitution.
Here's everything to know as you prepare to rock your vote.
Key dates
Sept. 20: In-person early voting begins. Find early voting sites .
Oct. 15: Last day to register to vote . Do so by 5pm in person or 11:59pm online, unless you plan to take advantage of same-day registration during the early voting period.
- Check if you're registered to vote and your information is up to date here .
Oct. 25: Last day to request your absentee ballot . Do so by 5pm.
Nov. 2: In-person early voting ends at 5pm.
Nov. 5: Election Day. Polls are open 6am-7pm.
- Don't forget your driver's license or another acceptable photo ID from this list .
- Absentee ballots must be returned by noon on Nov. 8. Here's everything you need to know about voting by mail .
Referendums
Virginians will vote on whether to amend the state constitution to expand property tax exemptions to include surviving spouses of soldiers who died in the line of duty.
- Currently law only covers surviving spouses of soldiers killed in action.
Petersburg residents will decide whether or not to allow a casino to be built on a 92.5-acre development off I-95.
- Officials there selected The Cordish Companies & Bruce Smith Enterprise and their proposed Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia to tackle the project if the referendum is approved.
U.S. President
Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photos: Scott Olson and Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images, and Sergio Flores, Emily Elconin and Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images
ICYMI: Vice President Kamala Harris (Democrat) will face former President Donald Trump (Republican) in what's expected to be a nail-biter race.
U.S. Senate: Hung Cao (R) vs. Tim Kaine (D)
Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photos: Oliver Contreras/Sipa/Bloomberg, Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Retired Navy Captain Hung Cao , who grew up and lives in Northern Virginia, is challenging Sen. Tim Kaine , the Richmonder seeking his third Senate term.
- Cao, endorsed by Donald Trump, beat out four other candidates for the Republican nomination in June.
- Kaine, a Democrat, has represented Virginia in the Senate since 2013 and raised around five times more than Cao.
- Cook Political Report puts the race as noncompetitive with Kaine winning. The two are scheduled to debate on Oct. 2 at Norfolk State University. It will air locally on WRIC and on their website, wric.com .
U.S. House
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
All 11 U.S. House seats in Virginia are up for grabs, but only three races include metro Richmond.
1st Congressional District: Leslie C. Mehta (D) vs. Robert J. Wittman (R)
Virginia's 1st Congressional District includes about half of Chesterfield and Henrico, the bulk of Hanover, and runs east through Williamsburg and the Eastern Shore. The district leans Republican , according to VPAP.
- There, GOP incumbent Rob Wittman who's represented the district since 2007 will face first-time candidate Leslie Mehta , a civil rights attorney.
- Inflation is one of the chief issues Wittman is focused on after hearing from voters about it, he told the Times-Dispatch recently . For Mehta, it's heath care, both access and cost, per the RTD.
4th Congressional District: Jennifer L. McClellan (D) vs. William J. "Bill" Moher III (R)
Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photos: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images and courtesy of the Moher campaign.
Virginia's 4th Congressional District includes all of the city of Richmond, plus the rest of Henrico and Chesterfield, and all the Tri-Cities before continuing south through the state. The district is considered solidly Democratic , according to VPAP.
- Incumbent, Richmonder and Democrat Rep. Jennifer McClellan faces Republican challenger Bill Moher , an Arlington consultant running for a congressional seat for the second time this year.
- He tried to run in the 7th District earlier this year but failed to qualify for the ballot, per the Times-Dispatch .
- McClellan won her seat for the first time last year, following the 2022 death of Rep. Donald McEachin.
5th Congressional District: Gloria Tinsley Witt vs. John J. McGuire III (R)
Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photos: The Washington Post via Getty Images
Virginia's 5th Congressional District is mostly defined as the Charlottesville area, but it includes parts of Goochland, Hanover and Powhatan. The district leans Republican , per VPAP.
- There are no incumbents in this race after Trump-endorsed state Sen. John McGuire beat Rep. Bob Good in the GOP primary.
- Republicans remain divided in the 5th over which nominee to support, reports the Virginia Mercury , which could give Gloria Witt — a Democrat, newcomer and businesswoman — an advantage.
- But McGuire has fundraised nearly 24 times as much as Witt, according to VPAP.
Richmond city races
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Richmond Mayor
Five candidates are running to be Richmond's fourth elected mayor in modern history.
- In Richmond, the next mayor has to win five of the nine City Council districts to be elected.
- If no one does, the top two candidates head to a runoff election in December.
Go deeper: The candidates running to be Richmond's next mayor
Richmond City Council
Seven of Richmond's nine council districts could have a new council person next year.
- That means locals in every district except the 2nd and 5th, where the incumbents are running unopposed, will vote in a council race in November. (Political newcomer Sarah Abubaker is running unopposed in the 4th District.)
Go deeper: The candidates running for Richmond City Council
Richmond School Board
- Five of Richmond's nine school board races are contested this year.
- So heads up residents of Richmond's 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th districts, you've got a school board member to elect.
Go deeper: The candidates running for Richmond School Board
What's next: We'll be all over election coverage through Election Day and then back at it again in 2025 for Virginia's gubernatorial race. So stay tuned.
Editor's note: This story was corrected to note that Richmond has had three elected mayors since 2004 (not ever).
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