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Isle of Wight and Surry County voters started casting ballots on Sept. 20 ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.

Early in-person voting at each locality’s registrar’s office will continue through Nov. 2.

Since 2020, Virginia has offered “no excuse” early voting, meaning voters no longer need to state a reason for wanting to receive a ballot early.

The Isle of Wight County registrar’s office, located in its own building at 17106 Monument Circle, will be open for early voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Surry’s registrar’s office moved earlier this year from its former location in the government and courts complex at 45 School St. to its current location at 168 Commerce Drive, Dendron. It will open Monday through Friday for early voting from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 2.

 

How to vote early

According to the Virginia Department of Elections, no application is required to vote early, but state law requires voters to provide some form of identification, or sign what’s known as an ID confirmation statement.

Acceptable forms of ID include a valid or expired Virginia driver’s license, valid U.S. passport, college or Virginia high school ID, or employee ID containing a photo of the voter. For those without a photo ID, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement or government check addressed to the voter is acceptable. A complete list of acceptable forms of ID is available at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/media/formswarehouse/voter-id/outreach-materials/documents/Voter-Identification-Chart-Rev-4-28-21.pdf.

Voters without any form of ID and who don’t sign an ID confirmation statement have the option of casting a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots will be counted once the voter provides at a later date either one of the acceptable forms of identification or signs an ID confirmation statement. Voters who cast provisional ballots have until noon on the Friday following the Nov. 5 election to do so. Each county’s electoral board is to certify provisional ballots no later than Nov. 15.

The deadline to register to vote and cast a regular ballot is Oct. 15. Voters who register after Oct. 15 can cast a provisional ballot. Registration must take place in person either at an early voting location or on election day at that voter’s assigned polling site, which is determined by home address. A list of Isle of Wight polling sites is available at https://www.co.isle-of-wight.va.us/our_services/voter_registration/polling_places_in_isle_of_wight_county.php.

A list of Surry polling sites is available at https://www.surrycountyva.gov/407/Precincts.

 

What about absentee ballots?

Voters who want a ballot mailed to them can apply online to vote absentee by filling out the form at https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation.

According to the Department of Elections, registrars will start mailing ballots on Sept. 20 to voters who have applied to vote absentee by mail.  The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is Oct. 25.

As with in-person early voting, voters no longer need to state a reason for requesting an absentee ballot.

Absentee ballots can be dropped off at the registrar’s office or voters’ assigned in-person polling site on election day, or returned by mail. Those that are returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Nov. 5 and received by noon on Nov. 8, according to the Department of Elections.

The state Board of Elections is to certify Virginia’s election results by Dec. 2. The federal Electoral College is to cast its votes for president and vice president on Dec. 17.

 

Who’s on the ballot?

President and constitutional amendment

At the top of the Nov. 5 ballot is the presidential race, where voters can choose a set of electors for the Democratic or Republican Party nominees, or one of four third-party tickets. Candidates are:

• Democratic Party: Kamala Harris for president and Tim Walz for vice president
• Republican Party: Donald Trump for president and J.D. Vance for vice president
• Green Party: Jill Stein for president and Rudolph Ware for vice president
• Libertarian Party: Chase Oliver for president and Mike her Matt for vice president
• Independent: Claudia De la Cruz for president and Karina Garcia for vice president
• Independent: Cornel West for president and Melina Abdullah for vice president

 

Senate

Voters will also get to choose between Democrat Timothy Kaine and Republican Hung Cao for senator.

All voters, regardless of locality, will also get to weigh in on a proposed state constitution amendment. The ballot question reads, “Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended so that the tax exemption that is currently available to the surviving spouses of soldiers killed in action is also available to the surviving spouses of soldiers who died in the line of duty. Voters can answer “yes” or “no.”

 

Congressional races

Isle of Wight voters can also vote in the race between Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal, Republican Jen Kiggans and independent candidate Robert Reid for the 2nd Congressional District seat.

Surry voters will see on their ballots the 4th Congressional District race between Democrat Jennifer McClellan and Republican William “Bill” Moher.

All ballots give voters the option of a write-in vote in any race.

 

Smithfield Town Council

Smithfield voters can choose up to three candidates from a list of five for three available four-year Town Council terms. The list includes:

• Michael G. Smith
• James M. “Jim” Collins
• Darren W. Cutler
• Mary Ellen Bebermeyer
• Raynard “Ray” Gibbs.

They can choose between William J. “Bill” Harris or a write-in candidate for a two-year remainder term that will end Dec. 31, 2026.

 

Windsor Town Council

Windsor voters can choose up to three Town Council members though only two names are listed:

• Marlin W. Sharp
• Jacob M. “Jake” Redd

 

Claremont Town Council

Voters in Surry County’s town of Claremont will be able to choose Daryl W. Graham or a write-in candidate for mayor and chose up to five Town Council: candidates:

• Terrie B. Foster
• Sue W. Gilbert
• Louise A. Hansch
• Rodney Dale Perkinson Jr.
• Phillip C. Yerby IV

 

Dendron Town Council

Dendron voters can choose Wallace E. Faison Jr. or a write-in candidate for mayor and up to six Town Council candidates, though only four names are listed: 

• Patricia Y. Byrd 
• W.E. “Bill” Richardson Jr., 
• Adam E.  Chubb Jr.
• Edward Eugene Joyner.

 

Surry Town Council

Voters who reside in the town of Surry can chose Bennie Junior Savedge or a write-in for mayor, and up to five Town Council candidates:

• Jason N. Wiedel
• Milton E. Berryman
• Joe A. Garcia
• Robert T. Berryman
• Brian L. Agor.