Early Voting Begins March 6 for the April 21, 2026, Special Election

Page updated on March 4, 2026 at 8:48 AM
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Early Voting Begins March 6 for the April 21, 2026, Special Election

For Immediate Release: March 4, 2026 

On March 6 early voting will begin for the April 21, 2026, Special Election in the City of Alexandria. The ballot will include a contest for City Council as well as a proposed statewide constitutional amendment. Any qualified City of Alexandria voter may vote in this election.

All registered voters in Virginia are eligible to vote by mail or in person. Carefully review the information below to determine applicable deadlines, times, and locations.

Voting in Person 

The deadline to vote early in person is Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 5 p.m. In-person early voting hours are as follows:

Office of Voter Registration & Elections (132 N. Royal St., Suite 100)

  • Opens for early voting on Friday, March 6, 2026
  • Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. 

Additional and Extended Hours:

  • Saturday, April 11, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 12, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Monday, April 13, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, April 14, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 15, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 16, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Friday, April 17, (see above for normal business hours)
  • Saturday, April 18, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Voting by Mail

Applications to request a mail-in ballot must be received in the Office of Voter Registration & Elections by 5 p.m., Friday, April 10, 2026. Access an application in one of the following ways: 

  • By visiting vote.elections.virginia.gov to submit an application online.
  • By downloading the application available on the City’s Elections webpage.
  • By calling Voter Registration & Elections at 703.746.4050 to request that an application is mailed to you.

Completed ballots must be either returned to the Office of Voter Registration & Elections by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, or postmarked by April 21 and received in the office by noon on Friday, April 24. To vote in person, an application is not required. Applications should not be submitted before voting in person.

Ballot Drop Boxes

Ballot drop boxes will be available at all polling places on April 21, 2026, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. A secure outdoor drop box, under video surveillance, is available in front of the Office of Voter Registration & Elections, 24 hours a day, through April 21, 2026, at 7 p.m. 

Registering to Vote

The deadline for the normal registration period for the April 21, 2026, Special Election is April 14, 2026. Following this, the Same Day Registration period begins and runs through Election Day, April 21, 2026. Visit vote.elections.virginia.gov to register, check registration status, or update an existing registration. 

Visit alexandriava.gov/Elections for complete election information, including voter registration requirements, sample ballots, precinct maps and ID requirements.

For more information, contact the Office of Voter Registration & Elections at voters@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.4050.

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact angela.turner@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.4050, Virginia Relay 711.