VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Early voting for the special election in Virginia's 7th Senate District is underway, more than a month before voters decide who will succeed Republican Jen Kiggans.
U.S. Navy veteran Kevin Adams, a Republican, is facing Virginia Beach Councilman Aaron Rouse, a Democrat, in the Jan. 10, 2023 election. The district covers parts of Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
The election will fill the seat that Kiggans held since 2020. She resigned after winning the U.S. House election in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, defeating Democratic incumbent Elaine Luria.
Here's what you need to know about early voting:
Where can I vote early in person?
People who live in the Virginia Beach portion of the district can vote at the Voter Registration & Elections Municipal Center, located at 2449 Princess Anne Road (Building 14).
The Norfolk Office of Elections, located at 810 Union Street, Suite 100, is open for early voting, too.
Early in-person voting will be open on weekdays (Monday through Friday) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Jan. 6. There will be two opportunities for Saturday voting: Dec. 31 and Jan. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Virginia Beach center will be closed from Dec. 23 to Dec. 26, and on Jan. 2.
What are the deadlines?
The voter registration deadline is Jan. 3 at the close of business, depending on the location you're registering at:
- Voter Registration & Elections, DMV: 5 p.m.
- Area libraries: 6 p.m.
- Central library: 8 p.m.
- Online: 11:59 p.m.
The application deadline to vote by mail is Dec. 30 at 5 p.m. The deadline to return a ballot is Jan. 10 at 7 p.m.
In Virginia Beach, those who need to drop off their ballot can do so at a drop box in the rear of the Municipal Center's Building 14 24/7 until 7 p.m. Election Day. The box is under 24-hour surveillance.
Drop boxes will be available at Norfolk's precincts on Election Day.
More information about applying to vote by mail is available on the Virginia Beach Voter Registration & Elections website.
Do I live in the 7th Senate District?
Within Virginia Beach, the district spans from the area of Stumpy Lake to a portion of Chic's Beach along the Chesapeake Bay. In Norfolk, the district covers Little Creek, Azalea Gardens and a portion of Tarrallton.
Luckily, there's a tool that can help you know for sure if you reside within the district.
The Virginia General Assembly's "Who's My Legislator?" tool allows people to search for their representatives by address. Just type the address in and the tool will show the state delegate, state senator, the U.S. House representative and the U.S. senators for that location.
Where can I vote on Election Day?
Virginia Beach has a list of precincts that belong to the 7th Senate District. In Norfolk, the 7th District precincts are:
- Little Creek Precinct: Little Creek Elementary School, 7900 Tarpon Place
- Azalea Gardens Precinct: Azalea Gardens Middle School, 7721 Azalea Garden Road
- Tarrallton Precinct: Tarrallton Recreation Center, 2100 Tarrallton Drive
To find which precinct you need to vote in, the Virginia Department of Elections has a tool for that.
What will my ballot look like?
Virginia Beach and Norfolk have sample ballots to give you an idea of what to expect in this election. The sample ballot contains instructions for voters at the top and the candidate selection in the middle.