Election Day in Arlington: Polls Open 6 A.M. to 7 P.M. Tuesday — and Yes, You Need ID (or a Signature)
Arlington votes Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Virginia's general election: a U.S. Senate seat, Congress, county and school offices, and three state constitutional amendments. Here is the county voter's morning-of guide.
Arlington polling places open at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, and close at 7 p.m. If you are in line at 7 p.m., you stay in line — Virginia law guarantees your ballot. Election Day voting happens at your assigned precinct, which for many Arlingtonians is the same school, church or community center as last time — but precinct assignments do change, and the county's voter registration office posts every voter's location through the state Citizen Portal at elections.virginia.gov.
Bring identification. Virginia asks in-person voters for an acceptable ID — a Virginia driver's license or DMV ID (current or expired both work), a U.S. passport, a military ID, a photo student ID, a government-issued ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck with your name and address. No ID in your pocket is not a dead end: you can sign an ID Confirmation Statement on the spot and vote a regular ballot. A provisional ballot is the fallback, counted once your ID or statement reaches the registrar by noon Friday, Nov. 6.
What Arlingtonians are deciding: one of Virginia's U.S. Senate seats, the county's seat in the U.S. House, Arlington County Board and School Board offices, and — at the very end of the ballot — three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution. There are no Virginia state offices on this year's ballot; Richmond's statewide races were decided in 2025.
Early in-person voting ended Saturday. A mail ballot still in your kitchen drawer must be hand-delivered to the registrar's office or an official drop location by 7 p.m. Tuesday to count — or bring it to your precinct, surrender it, and vote in person. Unregistered but eligible? Virginia's same-day registration lets you register in person on Election Day and vote a provisional ballot while your registration is verified.
Arlington's precincts are busiest before work and after 5 p.m. The midday voter is the wise voter: polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the whole operation runs on neighbors — the officers of election checking you in are Arlingtonians who volunteered. Be patient with them, and bring your patience a coffee.
