WAVY.com

Early voting in your city for the March 5 Presidential Primary

Jane Alvarez-Wertz

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – The Democratic and Republican parties are holding their primaries on March 5 in Virginia and North Carolina, for the upcoming presidential election in November.

This date is known as Super Tuesday, because a large number of states hold their primary on this day. This year, 15 states are holding their primary on March 5. Click here to see all Primary Election Dates.


VIRGINIA

In Virginia, you can vote early at your local registrar’s office beginning 45 days before an Election Day, until the Saturday before Election Day. For the upcoming March 5 Presidential Primary Election, the first day of early in-person voting was Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. The last day of in-person early voting is Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 5 p.m.

These are the dates for all Virginia voters, and all general registrar offices offering early voting.

Republicans and Democrats have both called for a Presidential Primary to be held on March 5, 2024 in Virginia. Voters may vote in either primary, but not in both primaries. The choice to vote in a party’s primary does not mean the voter will be “registered” with that party. Virginia does not have party registration.

Click on the links below to see a list of candidates on each ballot.

Voter Registration Deadline:

Registered voter who opt to vote by mail no longer needs a witness signature on a mailed absentee ballot, but voters will need to provide their year of birth and last four digits of their social security number.  Complete details from the Virginia State Board of Elections for absentee and early voting.

Absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline:

Polls are open in Virginia on Election Day from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Some localities have established early voting locations in addition to the General Registrar’s Office. You can go to the the General Registrar’s Office in your city or an early voting site to vote in person or drop off a mailed absentee ballot. 

Chesapeake

Early In-Person Voting

Early in-person voting for the March 5 Presidential Primary Election will take place at the Voter Registrar’s Office, 411 Cedar Rd, from January 19 – March 2 on weekdays from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Early voting at the Registrar’s Office will also be available on Saturday, February 24 and March 2 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. There will be no early voting on Monday, February 19 because the Registrar’s Office will be closed for President’s Day. Any registered voter can vote early in person without needing to apply to do so.   

Absentee Voting By Mail

If returning your completed ballot by mail, it must be postmarked by March 5 and received by the Chesapeake Voter Registrar’s Office by noon on March 8. If returning your completed ballot in person, you can drop it off to the Voter Registrar’s Office at any time using the secure outdoor drop box or by bringing it inside during office hours. The Chesapeake Voter Registrar’s Office MUST have your completed absentee ballot by 7 p.m. on Election Day.   

Hampton

Early in-person voting will begin January 19, 2024 at the Voter Registration Office, 101 Kings Way.

Virginia State Code 24.2-530 states: “No person shall vote for the candidates of more than one party.” This means voters will be asked which party primary they wish to vote in during the check in process and must choose only one party’s ballot to receive.

Important Dates:

Weekend Voting Opportunities:

Newport News

Early voting will begin on January 19, 2024 and will continue Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For all early voting and ballot dropbox information, contact the general registrar’s office.

Eligible citizens may vote in-person prior to Election Day at these convenient locations:

City Hall
2400 Washington Ave
6th Floor
Newport News, VA 23607

Satellite Office | City Center Fountain Plaza II

Both locations will be open Saturday, February 24 and Saturday March 2 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, March 2 is the deadline to early vote for the March 5 Presidential Primaries.

To get an absentee ballot application straight in your inbox, please email lewisvv@nnva.gov.

To receive an absentee ballot application form by US mail, please call us at 757-926-8683.

Norfolk

Early voting locations in Norfolk, for the March 5 Presidential Dual Primaries include:

Berkley Recreation Center – 121 W. Liberty Street, Norfolk, VA 23523

Jordan-Newby Anchor Branch Library – 1425 Norchester Ave., Norfolk, VA 23504

Lambert’s Point Community Center – 1251 W. 42nd Street, Norfolk, VA 23508

Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch Library – 111 W. Ocean View Ave. Norfolk, VA 23503

Portsmouth

The City of Portsmouth provided this information about early voting for the March 5 primaries, which is available Friday, Jan. 19 through Saturday, March 2.

City Hall Building
Voter Registration & Elections Office
801 Crawford Street, First Floor

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
(except on holidays)

Saturday voting hours are:
February 24, 2024 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
March 2, 2024 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Suffolk

There will be a Dual Party Presidential Primary on March 5, 2024. Voters must choose which party’s primary they wish to participate in. Voters may not vote in both primaries. –  Code of VA §24.2-530

ALL EARLY VOTING will take place at the Voter Registration Office located at 440 Market Street, First Floor. The last day for early in-person voting is Saturday, March 2, 2024. There are no satellite locations in Suffolk. The office will have extended hours until 5 p.m. on Tuesday,  February 13 and Saturday, March 2.  All precincts will be open on election day, March 5 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

ELECTION DAY VOTING  takes place at your assigned voting precinct only. You can view your assigned voting precinct or view/change your voter registration information through the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal or contact the Registrar’s Office at  757-514-7750.

Virginia Beach

Early voting in Virginia Beach for the Presidential Primaries begins at 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 19. 

In-person early voting is set to be available at the Voter Registration and Elections Office at 2449 Princess Anne Road, Municipal Center, Building 14.

Additional early in-person voting sites open on Saturday, Feb. 24, ending on Saturday, March 2. There will be no early voting on Sundays. The following locations are set to be available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. beginning Feb. 24.

Any Virginia Beach voter can vote in the primaries, but only in one party’s primary.

Any Virginia Beach citizen who will be 18 on or before the Nov. 5 General and Special Election will be eligible to vote in this election.

For information regarding sample ballots, early voting, and election day polling locations, please visit voter.virginiabeach.gov.

Williamsburg

City of Williamsburg voters can cast their ballots at the Voter Registrar’s Office, located in the Municipal Building at 401 Lafayette St., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through March 1. The office will also be open two Saturdays: Feb. 24 and March 2 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Polls will be open on Primary Election Day, Tuesday, March 5, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. To see a precinct map for polling locations on Election Day, visit williamsburgva.gov/vote.

York County

All general registrar offices offer early voting. Some localities may offer early voting in additional locations. Check the list below for dates and times.

Main Office – 5322 George Washington Mem Hwy, Yorktown, VA 23692

Victory Village Shopping Center – 6614 Mooretown Road Suite A, Williamsburg, VA 23188

Citizen Portal: Go to the Department of Elections Citizen Portal to find your voter information  — including your House and Senate districts, polling place and precinct.

NOTE: Virginia’s voter identification laws have changed. All voters must provide an acceptable form of identification when voting in person. Those who do not have an acceptable ID must either complete an ID Confirmation Statement or vote a provisional ballot. This requirement applies both to in person absentee voting before Election Day as well as Election Day voting. Click hereVOTER ID REQUIREMENT for more information.

NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina is also holding its Presidential Primary on March 5, 2024. The early in-person voting period for the primary election starts on Feb. 15 and ends March 2. Click here to find an early voting site in your county.

Polls are open in North Carolina on Election Day from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

In North Carolina, voters affiliated with any political party may vote the ballot of candidates for their party only. For example, a registered Republican may vote the Republican primary ballot only. North Carolina recognizes five political parties: The Democratic Party, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, the No Labels Party, and the Republican Party. A voter may choose one political party or can decide not to register with a political party. If a voter does not register with a political party, the voter will be registered as unaffiliated.

North Carolina voters will be asked to show a photo ID. Here’s a complete list of accepted IDs.

The State Board has approved the candidates for the 2024 presidential preference primary in North Carolina. See the list of candidates.

The 2024 General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The Democratic Party will select its presidential nominee at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, August 19-22, 2024, in Chicago.

The Republican Party will select its presidential nominee at the 2024 Republican National Convention, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from July 15-18, 2024.