NORFOLK, Va. — Virginia's 2023 general election is less than a month away, and early voting has already started.
Every seat in Virginia’s General Assembly is up for election this year, both in the House of Delegates and the Senate. Currently the Democrats have a razor-thin majority in the Senate, while the Republicans control the House. November’s election could see one or both chambers flip party control.
While the governor’s office is not up for election, the November election is expected to be viewed as a referendum on both Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s policies, as well as a possible early indication of which way the winds are blowing for next year’s presidential election.
In addition to the General Assembly, there are numerous municipal races for school boards, boards of supervisors, and more for the Hampton Roads area and the Eastern Shore in Virginia. Residents in Gloucester County will also be asked to vote on a capital improvements bond referendum.
As voters prepare to cast their ballots on November 7, 13News Now has gathered all the information you need, from important election dates and voter deadlines to how to look up your voter registration or polling place.
RELATED: Virginia 2023 elections: Which House or Senate district do I live in? Use these tools to find out.
Below, you'll also find a list of all the races and candidates that will appear on ballots across the Hampton Roads region, for both local and state-level elections.
13News Now reporters are also meeting with all the candidates running to represent Hampton Roads in the Virginia General Assembly to find out what they plan to prioritize for their districts, if elected. You'll find those interviews linked below as we publish them throughout the month of October — so bookmark this page and keep checking back for more!
Dates, voter deadlines and rules for the 2023 Virginia general election:
- First day of in-person early voting at the local registrar's office: September 22
- Deadline to register to vote: October 16 (people can still register after this date and vote with a provisional ballot under Virginia's same-day voting guidelines)
- Deadline to request a mail-in absentee ballot: Friday, October 27
- Voter registration offices open for early voting: October 28
- Last day of in-person early voting: November 4
- Election Day: November 7
Virginia Voter ID Rules
People who are voting in-person in Virginia will be asked to show a form of identification. Any voter who doesn't have an ID, can instead sign a statement affirming their identity, according to the Virginia Department of Elections website. Voters who don't have an ID and don't sign the statement can vote using a provisional ballot.
Virginia Voter Registration: How to check your status
Before arriving at polling places, Virginians need to be registered to vote. And to be registered, people first have to be eligible to vote in accordance with state law.
According to the Virginia Department of Elections, to be eligible to vote in Virginia elections, people must:
- Be a permanent resident of Virginia (not just someone who is here for an extended period).
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be 18 years old (if someone will be 18 on the day of a general election, they can vote in the primary when they are 17).
- Not be registered and planning to vote in another state.
- Must be mentally competent.
- Convicted felons must have had their voting rights restored.
If you're not sure whether or not you are a registered voter, you can check Virginia voter registration status as well as find your polling place and apply for absentee voting by mail on the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal.
If you're not registered to vote, but are looking to do so, you can register online here, using the Virginia Department of Elections portal. However, if you register to vote using the online Citizen Portal after Oct. 16, 2023, you will not be able to cast your ballot in the Nov. 7, 2023 general election.
If you need to register to vote after Oct. 16, you'll need to follow Virginia's same-day voter registration guidelines. Same-day registration begins Oct. 17, 2023 and is only available in-person at the general registrar’s office for your locality, at your satellite early voting site during the early voting period, and at your precinct on Election Day.
Where Do I Vote? Here's how to find your polling location in Virginia.
Virginia In-Person Voting
Your polling place for in-person voting is based on the address you use to register to vote. It's usually listed on a paper voter card mailed to voters after they register. The Virginia Department of Elections website also has a polling location lookup tool so you can find the address for your voting location there at any time.
Virginia Absentee Voting
For absentee voting, you can use the Virginia Department of Elections' citizen portal or reach out to your voter registrar’s office directly to request an absentee ballot. If you don't know the contact information for your voter registrar, you can look it up by locality online.
Virginia Early Voting
In-person early voting starts 45 days before Election Day (September 22, 2023) and is available through the Saturday before Election Day. Early voting is held at your local registrar's office or a satellite voting location in your county or city, and the dates and times for early voting may vary by locality. You can look up the location, the website and regular business hours of your local registrar's office via a tool on the Dept. of Elections' website. You may also want to check your local voter registrar's website for specific early voting dates and times — there are usually several weekend days on which they open specifically for early voting.
What's on Virginia ballots for November 2023 elections?
Two state-level elections will be on the ballot for every voter across Hampton Roads — one for Virginia Senate and one for the Virginia House of Delegates.
IMPORTANT: November 7 is the first election under new Virginia General Assembly district boundaries based on the 2020 U.S. Census — so it's likely your legislative districts have changed since the last election. You can look up what districts you're in now online. You can also use the Department of Elections' online interactive map of voting districts and precinct boundaries.
Not every voter in Hampton Roads will have local-level elections on their ballot, but many do. They are listed below by city or county. Uncontested races are not listed.
There is just one local referendum in our region for this election: in Gloucester, voters will be asked about Capital Improvement Bonds. According to the Virginia Department of Elections, it reads:
Shall the County of Gloucester contract a debt through general obligation capital improvement bonds in the maximum amount of $39,582,993 which would result in an estimated increase in the real estate tax rate of $0.02/$100 of assessed valuation, to provide funds to finance various capital improvement projects for (1) volunteer fire and rescue departments to include construction of a new fire department for Gloucester Volunteer Fire & Rescue and renovations to the bunk room at Abingdon Volunteer Fire & Rescue; (2) construction, improvement, and/or renovation of public school buildings and facilities to include renovations of Botetourt Elementary School, renovation of the Gloucester High School sports complex and associated site improvements, and school HVAC systems; and (3) parks and recreation to include Woodville Park water, sewer, lighting, bathrooms, construction of a community use building, and improvements at Gloucester Point Beach and Brown Park?
Virginia Senate
Make sure to look up what district you're in, as many have changed since the last election.
District 17
Clinton L. Jenkins (D)
Emily Marie Brewer (R)
District 18
L. Louise Lucas (D)
Anthony W. "Tony" Goodwin (R)
District 19
Myra J. Payne (D)
Christie New Craig (R)
District 20
Victoria A. Luevanos (D)
William R. "Bill" DeSteph (R)
District 21
Angelia Williams Graves (D)
Giovanni G. "Gio" Dolmo (I)
District 22
Aaron R. Rouse (D)
Kevin H. Adams (R)
District 24
T. Monty Mason (D)
J. D. "Danny" Diggs (R)
District 26
Pamela R. Garner (D)
Ryan T. McDougle (R)
RELATED: In Virginia's new 26th Senate District, incumbent Republican McDougle faces Democrat Garner
Virginia House of Delegates
Make sure to look up what district you're in, as many have changed since the last election.
District 70
Shelly A. Simonds (D)
Michael D. Bartley (L)
Matt J. Waters (R)
District 71
Jessica L. Anderson (D)
Amanda E. Batten (R)
District 83
Mary L. Person (D)
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. (R)
District 84
Nadarius E. Clark (D)
Michael J. Dillender (R)
RELATED: Candidates Nadarius Clark, Mike Dillender vie for 84th District seat in Virginia House of Delegates
District 86
Jarris Louis Taylor, Jr. (D)
A. C. Cordoza (R)
RELATED: Candidates A.C. Cordoza, Jarris Taylor Jr. vie for 86th District in Virginia House of Delegates
District 87
Jeion A. Ward (D)
John M. Chapman (R)
District 88
Don L. Scott Jr. (D)
James M. "Jim" Wright (R)
RELATED: Virginia's 88th House District race features incumbent Democrat Don Scott and Republican Jim Wright
District 89
Karen L. Jenkins (D)
N. Baxter Ennis (R)
RELATED: Candidates Karen Jenkins, Baxter Ennis vie for 89th District seat in Virginia House of Delegates
District 90
Jeremy D. Rodden (D)
James A. "Jay" Leftwich Jr. (R)
District 91
C. E. "Cliff" Hayes, Jr. (D)
Elijah Colon (R)
RELATED: Candidates Cliff Hayes, Elijah Colon vie for 91st District seat in Virginia House of Delegates
District 92
Bonita Grace Anthony (D)
Michael L. During (R)
RELATED: Two first-time candidates will go head to head in 92nd District race for Virginia House of Delegates
District 93
Jackie Hope Glass (D)
John Sitka III (R)
RELATED: Candidates Jackie Glass, John Sitka vie for 93rd District seat in Virginia House of Delegates
District 94
Phil M. Hernandez (D)
Andrew B. "Andy" Pittman (R)
RELATED: Candidates Phil Hernandez, Andy Pittman vie for 94th District seat in Virginia House of Delegates
District 96
Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler (D)
Mike Karslake (R)
Nicholas S. Olenik (I)
RELATED: Meet the candidates vying for Virginia Beach's 96th District seat in Virginia House of Delegates
District 97
Michael B. Feggans (D)
Karen S. Greenhalgh (R)
District 99
Cat A. Porterfield (D)
Anne Ferrell Tata (R)
District 100
Charlena Jones (D)
Robert S. Bloxom Jr. (R)
Hampton Roads Municipal Elections
If your city or county is not listed below, you either do not have any local races for the 2023 November election OR you only have candidates running unopposed for local office. You will still have state-level races on your ballot for the Virginia General Assembly seats listed above that are in your district.
Accomack County
Clerk of Court
Cedrick L. Cooper
Talia Custis Taylor
Board of Supervisors – District 2
Roger L. DeGeorges
Ron S. Wolff
Board of Supervisors – District 4
Jeffrey A. Parks, Sr.
Paul E. J. Muhly
Board of Supervisors – District 5
Calvin L. Washington, Sr.
Harrison W. Phillips, III
School Board – District 1
Connie C. Burford
Jesse W. Speidel
School Board – District 3
Jessica J. Lewis
Lisa M. Cropper Johnson
School Board – District 4
P Glenn Neal Jr.
Gary S. Reese
School Board – District 8
Stefanie A. Jackson
Ronnie E. Holden
School Board – District 9
Alex E. Vargas
Malcolm F. "Pep" White
Town Council – Special (Onancock)
Brandon J. Brockmeier
Gregory T. Temple
Town Council – Special (Wachapreague)
Glenn J. Schagelin
John W. Joeckel
City of Chesapeake
Soil and Water Conservation Director Virginia Dare District (Vote 2)
Blaizen Buckshot Bloom
Lawrence J. Mason
John H. Pierce
Vickie J. Greene
Treasurer
Dawn Ashby Quick (D)
Benton M. "Ben" White, Jr (R)
Gloucester County
Commissioner of Revenue
Sarah A. Narron (I)
Jo Anne Harris (R)
Board of Supervisors – Abingdon District
John C. Meyer, Jr.
Robert J. "JJ" Orth
School Board – Abingdon District
Kari E. Scruggs
Ted W. Engquist
School Board – Gloucester Point District
Jenn D. Baker
Troy M. Andersen
School Board – Ware District
David Conway Seabolt
James W. "Jim" Pike, Jr.
Leonne M. Arsenovic
School Board – At Large
Cindy M. Saulman
Darren P. Post
School Board – At Large Special
Deborah L. McDonough
Fred A. Brewer, Jr.
Matthew Ray Nash
REFERENDUM: Capital Improvements Bond
Yes
No
Isle of Wight County
Clerk of Court
Elisabeth "Lis" Culpepper
Laura E. Smith
Board of Supervisors – District 2
Tracy M. Hendrix
William M. "Pastor Mac" McCarty
School Board – District 1
Brandi A. Perkins
Denise N. Tynes
School Board – District 2
Timothy L. Mallory
J. Mark Wooster
School Board – District 4
Laequinla S. Hunter
Jason P. Maresh
Treasurer
Dahlis M. Atkins
Julie D. Slye
James City County
Commissioner of Revenue
Cameron P. Boone (R)
Richard W. Bradshaw (D)
Board of Supervisors – Berkeley District
John R. Curran, Jr. (R)
Ruth M. Larson (I)
Board of Supervisors – Roberts District
Trevor M. Topping (R)
John J. McGlennon (D)
Board of Supervisors – Stonehouse District
Lisa L. Ownby (D)
Barbara E. Null (R)
School Board – Berkeley District
Marvin A. Franz, Jr.
Randy J. Riffle
School Board – Roberts District
Daniel R. Cavazos
Max W. Blalock, Jr.
School Board – Stonehouse District
Damon K. Walker
Michael T. Hosang
Mathews County
Clerk of Court
Elizabeth A. Brown (I)
Susan Brooke Ripley (I)
Carrie Phillips Cullison (R)
Commissioner of Revenue
Christian A. Collier
Leslie L. "Les" Hall
Commonwealth’s Attorney
T. Marie Walls (I)
A. Conrad Bareford, III (R)
Board of Supervisors – At Large (Vote 3)
Albert D. Clark (I)
Jacqueline T. "Jackie" Ingram (I)
Janice Hudgins Phillips (I)
T.C. "Tom" Bowen, III (I)
Timothy P. Doss (I)
Billy R. Cook Jr. (I)
Patricia B. "Tricia" Stall (R)
Randall A. "Randy" Dobson (R)
Paul Wesley Hudgins (I)
School Board – At Large (Vote 3)
Calvin G. Morgan
Mary Kathryn Diggs
Sharon A. Frye
Tina Bull Broaddus
Desmond A. Smith
Marianne 'Mari' Gibbs
Sheriff
Albert S. "Sid" Foster
April L. Edwards
Newport News
School Board – South District
Maritsa A. Alger
Marlon A. Pendergraft Sr.
Poquoson
City Council – Western
Olga E. Davenport
Debbie Diggs Bunting
Sheriff
Scott Sheild Williams (I)
R. G. "Ron" Montgomery (R)
Southampton County
Commonwealth’s Attorney
James S. Ellenson
Eric A. Cooke
Mayor – Branchville
Cynthia Calos
Nancy Phelps Barrett
School Board – Northwest District
Cassandra D. B. Hobbs
Paula L. Dullas
Sheriff
Thomas O. Potter Jr. (I)
Josh A. Wyche Sr. (D)
Treasurer
Tiffany W. Kindred
Cynthia Jarratt Edwards
Suffolk
Soil and Water Conservation Director Peanut District (Vote 2)
Gordon J. Iiams
Charles L. Owens
Richard A. Gwaltney
Surry County
Clerk of Court
Earl Newby Jr.
Janeen L. Jackson
Shelia Lane Hunt
Thomas Mayes
Board of Supervisors – Bacons Castle District
Robert F. Chandler
Walter Hardy
Board of Supervisors – Claremont District
Susan Corvello
Robert L. Elliott Jr.
Board of Supervisors – Dendron District
Amy L. Drewry
Brenton J. Byrd
Board of Supervisors – Surry District
Bob I. Addison
W.T. "Tim" Calhoun
School Board – Carsley District
Roxanne L. Marr-Shears
Sue A. Fibish
Sheriff
R. M. "Rocky" Barbee
Carlos L. Turner
Sussex County
Board of Supervisors – Courthouse District
Keith C. Blowe
Phyllis T. Tolliver
Board of Supervisors – Stony Creek District
Mary W. Wilson
Thomas W. "Tom" Baicy III
Board of Supervisors – Wakefield District
John A. Stringfield
Wayne O. Jones
School Board – Blackwater District
Freddie A. Stringfield
Laurie S. Latham
School Board – Yale District
M. E. "Eddie" Morris, Jr.
Terry A. Massenburg
Sheriff
Erica Coleman Gatling
Ernest L. Giles, Sr.
York County
Commissioner of Revenue
Brandy N. Palazzone
Sarah K. Webb
Board of Supervisors – District 2
Dalila L. Johnson (D)
Sheila S. Noll (R)
Board of Supervisors – District 3
M. Wayne Drewry (I)
M. B. "George" Clark (R)
Board of Supervisors – District 4
Robert S. Holloway, Jr. (I)
G. Stephen Roane, Jr. (R)
School Board – District 2
Zoran Pajevic
Brett J. Higginbotham
School Board – District 3
Kimberly S. Goodwin
Laurel M. Garrelts
School Board – District 5
Lynda J. Fairman
Sean P. Myatt
Sheriff
Scott Sheild Williams (I)
R. G. "Ron" Montgomery (R)