College Student Info

The following information is specific to college students and explains residency requirements for voter registration and special absentee privileges for certain students. The State Board of Elections' regulations on voter registration provide guidance to college students as well as other first time voters that may have questions about how to register and where to vote in Virginia. For step-by-step details, see other areas of the website addressing registration and absentee voting.

How do College Students register to vote in Virginia?

A college student may decide to use their campus address to register. To do so, either apply online using Citizen Portal or submit a voter registration application. You must update your voter registration information whenever you change your residence.

Every voter in Virginia must submit their residential address when registering to vote (a post office box cannot serve as a residential address). If you are unable to receive mail at your address, you must also submit a local mailing address. For students registering with a campus address, be sure to include your dormitory or residence hall name along with your dorm street address — this may be different than your campus mailing address. This is needed to assign you to the correct polling location.

If your local voter registration office is unable to determine your physical residency based on a college address you provided on your voter registration application, the office will contact you to request further information needed to register you to vote. Providing your e-mail address and phone number on your voter registration application is a helpful way to ensure that the local voter registration office can contact you promptly. The local voter registration office may also contact you by mail at the mailing address you provide on your voter registration application.

The best way to ensure your registration is complete and ready to go for Election Day is to register by the registration deadline, which is 11 days before the election. If you miss the registration deadline, you can register and vote with a provisional ballot during the remainder of early voting and at the polling location associated with your residence on Election Day.

Nov. 2026 College Student Registration Flyer

What is my residence?

A prospective voter must be a resident of the Commonwealth and of the precinct where he seeks to register. In order to establish “residency,” a prospective voter must have a physical location where they intend to stay for an unlimited time. A person can have residency in only one place at a time.

The applicant must determine and declare their residence and may change their intent at any time.

How do College Students vote?

A college student votes in the same manner as any other registered voter: you may vote in person on Election Day, vote early beginning 45 days ahead of an election, or vote absentee by mail.