Are You Eligible to Vote Absentee?
Registered voters entitled to vote by absentee ballot are:
- Active duty military, their spouses and dependents
- Students and their spouses away at school
- People absent on Election Day for business or vacation
- People working and commuting to and from home for 11 or more hours, between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- Electoral board members, registrars, and election officers
- People with a physical disability or illness, including pregnancy
- People who are the primary caretaker of a confined family member
- People who are temporarily confined
- People with a religious obligation
- People temporarily residing outside of the U.S.
- First responders who may be absent while they are working on Election Day
If you are active duty military, or if you are the spouse or dependent of active duty military personnel, or if you are a United States citizen living abroad, you may fill out the Federal Post Card Application:
Absentee voting is done through the mail or in person prior to Election Day. In order to vote absentee, an Absentee Ballot Application must be completed prior to voting.
The two applications above require the free Adobe Reader which may be downloaded here.
Information About In-Person Absentee Voting
An in-person absentee voter visits an absentee office location to vote. In Loudoun County there are two locations: the Voter Registration office in Leesburg and the Cascades Senior Center in Sterling. Arriving voters complete the Absentee Ballot Application and provide appropriate identification. The Absentee Ballot Application is processed there and voting takes place on a voting machine just as is done on Election Day.
Absentee in-person voting begins approximately 45 days prior to a general election (30 days for primaries) and ends at 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday before Election Day. The date of the next election and other information is online:
Important Dates
- Monday, October 5, 2009, 5:00 p.m., is the last day to register to vote
- Tuesday, October 27, 2009, is the last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed
- Saturday, October 31, 2009, 5:00 p.m., is the last day to vote absentee in person
Absentee Voting Hours
Extended hours for absentee voting in Leesburg will be offered at 801 Sycolin Road, Suite 102, Leesburg, 20175
- October 19-23, 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- October 26-30, 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Two Saturdays: October 24 and 31, 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m
Satellite absentee voting will be offered at the Cascades Senior Center, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, 20165
- October 19-23, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- October 26-30, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Two Saturdays: October 24 and 31, 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Absentee Voting Locations
Addresses of the two locations for Loudoun County voters to vote an absentee ballot in person are:
Loudoun County Voter Registration
801 Sycolin Road, S.E., Suite 102
Leesburg VA 20175
This absentee location will be open during normal business hours ( Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and maintains Saturday hours as well.
Cascades Senior Center
21060 Whitfield Place
Sterling VA 20165
This absentee location will be open 2 weeks prior to the November elections only; from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and maintains Saturday hours also.
The Absentee Ballot Application is available at both absentee voting locations.
Information About Absentee Voting by Mail
A by-mail absentee voter acquires an Absentee Ballot Application and completes the pertinent absentee and voter information on the application. The application must then be mailed or faxed to the Loudoun County Voter Registration office, where it is processed. Once eligibility has been determined, a ballot and its accompanying instructions are mailed to the voter. When the voter receives the ballot, he/she may vote in the presence of another adult. The voter must return the ballot in the self-addressed envelope provided.
The ballot must be received no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted in an election.
To Receive an Absentee Ballot by Mail
You may access the Absentee Ballot Application  online and either print this application, fill it out, sign and date it or complete it on the computer, print, sign and date it. Mail or fax the application to the office.
Loudoun County Voter Registration
801 Sycolin Road, S.E., Suite 102
Leesburg VA 20175-5686
Fax: 703-777-0622
Or request an application be mailed to you from our office by calling 703-777-0380.
The Absentee Ballot Application cannot be submitted online. The deadline to request an Absentee Ballot by mail is 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday before Election Day. Sending your application early enough will allow enough time for delivery, as well as the time necessary for processing your application. The date of the next election and other information is online:
When Will You Get A Ballot?
Ballots are mailed approximately 45 days before each general election (30 days for primaries). Ballots are mailed the next business day after the Absentee Ballot Applications are received.
When is Your Ballot Counted?
All absentee ballots, those sent by mail and those cast in-person, are counted on Election Day in Virginia, as if the ballots were cast in a polling place. Ballots must be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted. The last day to request a ballot to be mailed is the Tuesday preceding Election Day.
Other Information about Absentee Ballot Applications
You can send in an Absentee Ballot Application for any election to be held the following year, up to the next November election.
Please call or e-mail us if your ballot doesn't arrive within a reasonable time. The phone number is 703-777-0380 and the e-mail address is vote@loudoun.gov.
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