Absentee ballots will be counted

RICHMOND — A false rumor has been circulating about Virginia’s absentee ballots not being counted if one candidate is winning the election by a large margin.

This rumor is false, says Susan S. Pollard, director of communications for the Virginia State Board of Elections.

In Virginia all absentee ballots, properly cast, will be counted.

Voters may vote absentee either by mail or in person. For a ballot to be considered “properly cast” the voter must follow the specific instructions included with the ballot. For example, the absentee ballot must be sealed in a signed envelope and placed in another envelope for mailing purposes. If the envelope is not sealed, then it would not be considered properly cast.

In order to vote by absentee ballot, voters must apply. Applications are available online at the State Board of Elections Web site.

To vote by mail, the application is due by 5 p.m. on Oct. 28. The last day to vote absentee in person at your local registrar is Nov. 1.

(The deadline to register to vote was Oct. 6.)

Identification is required for in-person absentee voting. For a full list of acceptable forms of identification, go to the State Board of Elections Web site.

All absentee ballots must be submitted to the local registrar’s office or assigned precinct by the time the polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 4.

On Election Day, all properly cast absentee ballots will be counted.

There are 17 different categories by which a registered voter may qualify to vote absentee. Under Virginia law a registered voter who answers “yes” to one of the following questions may qualify to vote by absentee ballot:

• Does your work day, including your commute time, keep you away from home for 11 hours or more?

• Are you the primary caregiver for a family member confined at home?

• Are you disabled or suffering from an illness?

• Are you a student away at school or a spouse of a student?

• Are you pregnant?

• Will you be away for business reasons?

• Are you temporarily residing outside of the United States?

• Do you have a religious obligation?

• Will you be away on vacation?

• Are you a member of the U.S. Uniformed Services on active duty or are you the spouse of an active duty service member?

• Will you be serving as an election official?

• Will you be confined either awaiting trial or already convicted of a misdemeanor?

• Are you requesting a ballot for presidential and vice presidential electors only?

To obtain a Virginia Absentee

Ballot Application go to the

State Board of Elections web site

at www.sbe.virginia.gov.