We’re working hard to get you Q&As with every candidate for state and federal offices and a handful of local offices on the ballot this year. During the general election, voters across the state will also decide three additional proposed constitutional amendments addressing reproductive rights, marriage equality and the restoration of voting rights for people with felony convictions.

The general election is on Nov. 3. Here’s what you can do in the meantime:

• Sign up for the free Voter Guide email newsletter to get updates.
• Oct. 23 is the last day to register to vote in the General Election. Check your voter registration status using the Citizen Portal. Virginia also allows unregistered voters to cast provisional ballots during early voting and on Election Day. Those ballots will be counted after election officials verify the voter’s eligibility to vote.

This guide is here to provide information to help you decide who you want to represent you. It covers all eligible races in 11 central Virginia counties and the City of Charlottesville. (It doesn’t include the greater Richmond area because there are more media outlets providing information on those races.) Charlottesville Tomorrow has published a voter guide for 20 years. We expanded beyond the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County in 2023, after we heard from many people that they wanted more information in the region.

Sometimes, it’s hard to get information about local races. If you have information or see an error in this guide, please reach out and let us know.

Candidate information for statewide races

U.S. Senate

Q&A for U.S. Senate shows Virginia’s Warner and Mizusawa agree data centers are a problem, but they’d fix it differently

The candidates also split sharply on housing, health care and immigration, offering few areas of common ground beyond shared unease over data centers.

Q&A with Virginia’s three Republican primary candidates for U.S. Senate

Data centers emerged as one of the biggest points of disagreement between the three candidates. From nuclear-powered data centers to stronger local control, the candidates offered competing visions for Virginia’s future.

U.S. House of Representatives District 5

Should Congress rein in AI? In this candidate Q&A, two 5th District House challengers say yes

Incumbent Rep. John McGuire has yet to respond.

Q&A with three candidates seeking Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 5th District

The candidates share similar concerns about housing costs and presidential power, but diverge on immigration enforcement, offering very different visions for the future of ICE.

Q&A with the two Republican primary candidates for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District

Data centers and energy policy showed a clear divide. Lucero prioritized protecting communities from corporate ‘abuse,’ while McGuire focused on cutting regulations to encourage new power plants and transmission lines.

U.S. House of Representatives District 7

7th District Q&A finds candidates sharply divided on what oversight of the president should look like

“The purpose of Congress is not to serve as a check to the executive branch or any other branch of government,” Republican candidate Doug Ollivant wrote. Other candidates disagreed, describing Congress’ role in the federal system of checks and balances — established by the U.S. Constitution — as central to the job.

Q&A with Republican primary candidates for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District

Rick Smithers and Philip Harding have responded, providing answers with strikingly different tones while sharing similar visions on issues from the Valley Link transmission line to rural jobs. Ollivant has not responded.

Statewide referendums

More on the referendums

Learn about the ballot referendum on automatically restoring voting rights to formerly incarcerated people

The loss of voting rights due to felony convictions disproportionately affects Black Virginians, according to research from the Sentencing Project.

by Alana Bittner

Here’s what the ballot referendum on same-sex marriage means for Virginians

The referendum would reverse a 2006 amendment that banned same-sex marriages in the state, which the courts said was unconstitutional.

by Alana Bittner

The reproductive freedom question on your ballot explained

Virginia voters will decide whether to change what the state constitution says about reproductive health, including birth control, prenatal care, abortion and miscarriage management.

by Alana Bittner

Local candidate and referendum information for counties, cities and towns

Albemarle County

With high schools ‘at or over capacity,’ Albemarle County voters will consider a 1% local sales tax referendum for school construction

Albemarle County Public Schools has six priority capital projects, but only one is currently funded.

Scottsville (Town)

Coming soon: Scottsville Town Council race Q&A

Appomattox County

Appomattox County has no local races or referendums this year, but you will see statewide referendums and candidates for congressional offices on your ballot.

Appomattox (Town)

Coming soon:

• Appomattox Town Mayor race Q&A
• Appomattox Town Council race Q&A

Buckingham County

Coming soon: Buckingham Board of Supervisors race Q&A

Charlottesville City

Charlottesville adds 1% local sales tax referendum to the ballot to raise money for new preschool and high school renovations

Charlottesville is one of 47 Virginia localities to ask voters to allow them to impose the 1% sales tax.

Cumberland County

Cumberland County has no local races this year, but you will see statewide referendums and candidates for congressional offices on your ballot.

Dillwyn (Town)

The Town of Dillwyn has no local races this year, but you will see candidates for Buckingham County and for congressional offices, along with statewide referendums, on your ballot.

Fluvanna County

Proposed sales tax could bring in $1.5 million to $2 million a year for Fluvanna County schools

“If the referendum is approved, we would work collaboratively with county leadership to determine the most appropriate and immediate priorities for the funding,” Superintendent Peter Gretz said.

Gordonsville Town

Coming soon: Gordonsville Town Council Q&A

Greene County

Coming soon: Greene County Board of Supervisors Q&A

Greene County voters to decide on 1% sales tax as schools forecast increased enrollment

“Because Ruckersville Elementary is already at 95% capacity, absorbing an additional 630 students would push the building to nearly double its physical capacity,” said Kelly Greer, member of the Greene County School Board. 

Stanardsville (Town)

Coming soon:

• Stanardsville Town Mayor Q&A
• Stanardsville Town Council Q&A

Louisa County

Louisa County has no local races this year, but you will see statewide ballot referendums and candidates for congressional offices on your ballot. The towns of Louisa and Mineral are holding local elections.

Louisa (Town)

Louisa Mayor Ashley Michael, who is running unopposed for her seat, says creating public spaces is ‘a high priority’ 

In her candidate Q&A, Michael also promised better communication, and careful deliberation on data centers and future development.

Coming soon: Louisa Town Council Q&A

Mineral (Town)

Coming soon:

• Mineral Town Mayor Q&A
• Mineral Town Council Q&A

Madison County

Madison County voters will consider local sales tax for public school capital projects

A study is currently underway to determine whether Madison County’s middle and high schools need major renovations, or whether the county needs a completely new secondary school complex.

Nelson County

Nelson County voters will consider referendum to allow a 1% local sales tax for school construction and renovations

Superintendent Amanda Hester has already identified potential projects, while Supervisor Jesse Rutherford says the funding should be the state’s responsibility.

Orange County

Orange County voters to decide on 1% sales tax to narrow school infrastructure funding gap

From HVAC issues to wastewater treatment, Orange County Public Schools cite more than $28 million in infrastructure and facilities needs as voters head to the polls.

Orange (Town)

Coming soon: Orange Town Council Q&A

Pamplin (Town)

Unopposed Pamplin Town Council candidate Jessica Arnold says she will work to fund targeted projects to make the town safer, more inviting

“We may be a small town, but it doesn’t mean we have to stand still,” Arnold said.

Coming soon:

• Pamplin Town Mayor Q&A
• Pamplin Town Council Q&A

Prince Edward County

Prince Edward Superintendent hopes 1% sales tax referendum provides ‘a dedicated funding source’ for school construction and renovations

County residents can vote the new local sales tax in a referendum on their ballots this fall.

Farmville (Town)

Coming soon:

• Farmville town mayor Q&A
• Farmville Town Council Ward A Q&A
• Farmville Town Council Ward B Q&A
• Farmville Town Council Ward C Q&A
• Farmville Town Council at large Q&A

Here are key dates and deadlines in the 2026 elections

Friday, March 6, 2026 – Saturday, April 18, 2026	Early voting for the special election on a constitutional amendment to allow state lawmakers to redraw the congressional district map. Voting is available weekdays at local registrar’s offices. Registrar's offices will also be open for voting Saturday, April 11 and Saturday, April 18.
Friday, April 10, 2026, 5 p.m.	Deadline to apply to your local registrar's office for your ballot to be mailed to you or to apply for an absentee ballot using the Citizen Portal for the special election. Requests must be received by your local registrar’s office by 5 p.m.
Wednesday, April 15, 2026	Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration for the special election. You can still vote in the special election if you miss this deadline by registering at the polling place and casting a provisional ballot.
Tuesday, April 21, 2026	Special Election Day!
Friday, July 24, 2026	Last day to register to vote in the primaries. Deadline to apply to your local registrar’s office for your ballot to be mailed to you or to apply for an absentee ballot using the Citizen Portal for the primary election. Requests must be received by your local registrar’s office by 5 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026	Last day for early voting in the primaries. Local registrar’s offices will be open this Saturday until 5pm.
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026	Primary Election Day!
Friday, Sept. 18, 2026 – Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026	Early voting is available weekdays for the General Election. You can vote in your local registrar’s office or in satellite locations, depending on your locality. Contact your local registrar’s office to find out where to vote in your area.
Friday, Oct. 23, 2026	Last day to register to vote in the General Election. Check your voter registration status using the Citizen Portal.  If you don't register by today, you can still vote! Virginia allows unregistered voters to cast provisional ballots during early voting and on Election Day. Those ballots will be counted after election officials verify the voter's eligibility to vote.
Friday, Oct. 23, 2026	Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot. Applications should be submitted by 5 p.m. Apply online using the Citizen Portal or fill out the Absentee Application Form and submit it to your local registrar’s office by mail, fax, or email.
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 and Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026	Early voting extends its normal hours to open on Saturdays the last two weeks before election day. Contact your local registrar’s office to find out where to vote in your area.
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026	General Election Day!

We will update this list periodically as deadlines approach or we receive new information.

Register to vote, check your registration, find your polling place and apply to vote absentee at the Virginia Department of Elections here. Remember, even if you miss registration deadlines, you can register through Election Day and vote using a provisional ballot.

Need to know if you’re eligible to vote? Here are resources from the Virginia Department of Elections.

This year's primary election was postponed from its usual June date. That's because voters were asked in April to decide whether to amend the Virginia Constitution to allow state lawmakers to redraw the congressional district map. Congressional district maps are usually redrawn only once every 10 years after the U.S. census. The amendment would have allowed Virginia to redraw its map earlier, a move supported by Democrats who hoped to redraw congressional districts in ways that could benefit their party after Republicans did the same in several other states.

Virginia voters approved the amendment, but conservative groups immediately challenged it in court. A judge blocked the new districts from taking effect, and the Virginia Supreme Court later struck down the amendment, leaving the current congressional map unchanged.