So, has early voting started in VA yet?

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[grannie4peace]

1. i didn't know we could do that?

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2. From a brand new Time article:

"Even though bags of candy corn and other Halloween treats have barely hit drugstore shelves, Virginia voters will start casting their ballots on Friday at early-voting sites around the commonwealth."

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5. grannie4peace, can you try this link to confirm there is early voting in VA?

http://www.voteforchange.com/

Please let me know what it says...

[rvablue]

6. There is NO EARLY VOTING in VA!!!!!!!

This is my 3rd or 4th post on this.
There is no early voting in Virginia and I wish people would stop classifying it as that.
It is absentee voting, meaning that you have to meet the threshold for voting absentee, fill out an application and then you can vote. However, it cuts off days before General Election Day.

Early voting means that the polls open early and you can walk in, get your name checked off from the rolls and cast your vote, just like on Election Day. Where they do this, it can start as early as a few weeks before election day and continues until Election Day.

It is dangerous for VA voters to think there is early voting. There will be a period of time when one can no longer apply as an absentee voter and Election Day and there is a chance that this could keep people from not casting a ballot.

Please change these check-ins by asking "Did you know you can cast an absentee ballot now in VA."

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3. The VA election board calls it absentee voting but it can be done same day:

Absentee voting provides a means for qualified voters to participate in upcoming elections even though they may not be able to go to the polls on election day. Absentee voting in person begins approximately 45 days before a November General Election and approximately 30 days before other elections and ends on the Saturday before the election.
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Absentee_Voting/Index.html

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4. Who May Vote Absentee?

Per § 24.2-700 of the Code of Virginia, the following registered voters may vote by absentee ballot in any election in which they are qualified to vote:

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Any person who, in the regular and orderly course of his business, profession, or occupation or while on personal business or vacation, will be absent from the county or city in which he is entitled to vote;
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Any person who is (i) a member of a uniformed service of the United States, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1973ff-6(7), on active duty, or (ii) a member of the merchant marine of the United States, or (iii) who temporarily resides outside of the United States, or (iv) the spouse or dependent residing with any person listed in (i), (ii), or (iii), and who will be absent on the day of the election from the county or city in which he is entitled to vote. See Absentee Voting Procedures for Overseas Personnel (Military & Non-Military)
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Any student attending a school or institution of learning, or his spouse, who will be absent on the day of election from the county or city in which he is entitled to vote;
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Any person who is unable to go in person to the polls on the day of election because of a disability, illness or pregnancy ;
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Any person who is confined while awaiting trial or for having been convicted of a misdemeanor, provided that the trial or release date is scheduled on or after the third day preceding the election. Any person who is awaiting trial and is a resident of the county or city where he is confined shall, on his request, be taken to the polls to vote on election day if his trial date is postponed and he did not have an opportunity to vote absentee;
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Any person who is a member of an electoral board, registrar, officer of election, or custodian of voting equipment;
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Any duly registered person who is unable to go in person to the polls on the day of the election because he is primarily and personally responsible for the care of an ill or disabled family member who is confined at home; or
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Any duly registered person who is unable to go in person to the polls on the day of the election because of an obligation occasioned by his religion.
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Any person who, in the regular and orderly course of his business, profession, or occupation, will be at his place of work and commuting to and from his home to his place of work for eleven or more hours of the thirteen that the polls are open (6:00 AM to 7:00 PM).

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Any registered and qualified voter may request a mail ballot for presidential and vice-presidential electors only by writing across the top of their absentee application "request ballot for presidential electors only." A voter who votes a "presidential only" ballot may not later decide to vote the rest of the ballot. The same procedures and deadlines apply as for other absentee applications and ballots.

Ibid