The Madison Center has compiled a how-to guide for TurboVote voter registration and additional functions.

Yes, you can vote in the City of Harrisonburg’s elections. You must use your full physical address to register. 

If you are living on campus in a residence hall, list 800 S Main Street, your residence hall, 22807 for your Residence Address line. List your mailing address as 800 S. Main Street, JMU Box #---, Harrisonburg, VA 22807.

If you are a resident of the Apartments on Grace Street, list 42 W. Grace Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 for your Residence Address line. List your mailing address as 800 S. Main Street, JMU Box # G---, Harrisonburg, VA 22807.

If you live off-campus, use that mailing address.

Attending JMU involves becoming part of the Harrisonburg community. Voting in our local elections is essential for JMU students to express their beliefs and values as community members living in Harrisonburg. These elected officials shape policies that influence our local economy, transportation, housing, healthcare, education, and numerous other aspects of daily life. Local elections allow the community to exercise their right to influence the direction of local governance, ensuring that all concerns and perspectives are taken into account.

Yes, you can vote in your hometown as a JMU student and living in Harrisonburg if you are registered to vote in your hometown with a local address and request a mail-in absentee ballot. 

Check your voter registration status

Register to vote

No, Virginia residents do not register by party. 

If you live out of state, check your state’s election guidelines. 

Yes, you must update your registration with your new address. Update your voter registration with TurboVote.

Yes, in Virginia. You can register to vote on election day in person at your designated polling location. After registering, you will be provided with a green provisional ballot. A provisional ballot is a ballot reviewed within 7 days of the election by the local electoral board. Your vote will then be counted if all forms have been completed correctly.

 If you live out of state, check your state’s election guidelines. 

After you register to vote or update your registration, you should receive a confirmation notification from your registrar via mail at your residence. 

Check your voter registration status with TurboVote

A provisional ballot is the type of ballot that is cast if an individual fails to register to vote within the time frame allotted. In Virginia, the last day to register to vote is October 15.  After that date, individuals can still register, but their vote is counted as "provisional" - which means it may be delayed but is still counted.

An absentee ballot can be ordered through the mail and mailed back so that a vote is counted. Sometimes individuals who are "absent" - do not live locally - will choose to order an absentee ballot. The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is October 25.

Yes, in Virginia anyone may request a mail-in ballot.

For all other states, find out if you are eligible to vote by mail with TurboVote.

1. Check that you are registered to vote and your information is up to date.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form with TurboVote.
3. Look for and receive your absentee ballot in the mail.
4. Fill out your absentee ballot and seal it. You do not need a stamp, the postage is already paid. 
5. Return your absentee ballot in the mail. 

You can track the status of your absentee ballot through the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal.

For all other states, visit your state's Department of Elections page.

The USPS delivery standards changed last year so that First Class delivery went from 1-3 days to 2-5 days and Standard delivery is now 2-9 days. Please keep this in mind, as the ballot must be received by your local general registrar no later than 12:00 PM on the third day following Election Day. Having the ballot postmarked by the deadline does not count if the ballot is still received after the deadline.

Yes, you can still vote in person. There are two options:

1. Prior to the day of the election, return your absentee ballot to the registrar
   1. Unopened and in the original sealed envelope, or
   2. Opened and unmarked.

You may vote early at the registrar’s office or your designated early-voting location, OR

On election day, bring your absentee ballot with you to your designated polling location and you will be provided with a regular ballot.

If for any reason you do not have your absentee ballot, inform the election officers at your polling location. You are required to sign a statement that you are the registered voter that you claim to be in order to cast a ballot. This statement is subject to felony penalties. If signed, you may cast a regular ballot.

If you do not want to sign this statement, you may cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot is a ballot reviewed within 7 days of the election by the local electoral board. Your vote will then be counted if all forms have been completed correctly.

Yes, you can still vote. There are two options:

1. Prior to the day of the election, return your absentee ballot to the registrar. If they can confirm the return of the absentee ballot, you may choose to vote early at the registrar’s office or on election day, OR
2. On the day of the election, bring your defaced ballot with you to your designated polling location. If the registrar or an election officer are able to confirm the return of the absentee ballot, you may vote with a regular ballot. 

In either of these cases, if the registrar or an election officer are unable to confirm the return of the ballot you may vote with a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot is a ballot reviewed within 7 days of the election by the local electoral board. Your vote will then be counted if all information is correct.

Individuals may vote early, within their local districts, from September 20 - November 2.

Yes, in Virginia anyone may vote early. To vote absentee in person you must be a registered voter of the district you are voting in, provide your name and address, and show an acceptable form of ID. To vote absentee in person in Harrisonburg you must be registered to vote in Harrisonburg.

If you live out of state, check your state’s election guidelines.

In Harrisonburg, you can vote at City Hall (409 South Main St.) beginning 45 days before Election Day and ending the Saturday before Election Day. 

Early voting is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am until 4:30 pm, and the last two Saturdays prior to the election. The first Saturday, October 28th will be open 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, and the last Saturday, November 4th 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.

If you are voting early outside of Harrisonburg, you can find your early voting location with TurboVote.

In-person voters must show an acceptable type of ID at the polls. Voters may show any one of a number of documents, including:

• A Valid JMU Student ID

• Voter registration confirmation documents.
• Valid VA Driver’s License
• Valid US Passport
• Any identification issued by the Commonwealth of VA, one of its political subdivisions, or the US government
• Student ID Card issued by any institution of higher education in VA
• Employee ID card with a photograph
• Copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government documents with a voter’s name and address

To access the full list of acceptable identification, access the VA Dept. of Elections Voter ID Chart by the Virginia Department of Elections.

You can find your voting location with TurboVote.

If you live in JMU residence halls, you can vote at JMU's precinct located at Godwin Hall if you are registered to vote in Harrisonburg. 

Voting Locations by Local Apartments and Student Housing:

• Keister Elementary School, 100 Maryland Ave
  • Central Ave Apartments 
  • Grand Duke Apartments 
  • Hidden Creek Apartments 
  • Madison Gardens 
  • Meriwether Hills 
  • Pheasant Run Townhomes
  • Port & Main Apartments 
  • Shank Apartments 
  • The Mill Apartments
• Thomas Harrison Middle School, 1311 West Market St
  • Ice House Apartments
• Lucy Simms Center, 620 Simms Ave
  • Harris Gardens Apartments
  • Lexington Square 
  • North 38 
  • Woodland Townhomes
• Smithland Elementary School, 474 Linda Ln
  • Arcadia Harrisonburg 
  • Copper Beech 
  • Chestnut Ridge 
  • Campus View 
  • Charleston Townes
  • Hillmont Apartments 
  • Loop Modern Apartments
  • Sunchase Apartments 
  • The Pointe
• Spotswood Elementary School, 40 Mountain View Dr
  • Urban Exchange
• Waterman Elementary School, 451 Chicago Ave
  • Parkwood Apartments
• Stone Spring Elementary School, 1575 Peach Grove Ave
  • Camden Townes 
  • Deer Run Apartments 
  • Foxhill Townhomes 
  • Hunter's Ridge 
  • Squire Hill Apartments 
  • The Hills Northview 
  • The Hills Southview 
  • The Harrison and 
  • 865 East 
  • The Overlook

On election day, Bird offers free rides to vote. 

You can check out Rideshare2Vote. Their goal is to make sure everyone has free, convenient and reliable voter transportation and rides to get to the polls and exercise their right to vote in Texas, Florida, Virginia, and 12 other states. 

You can still vote. If you cannot produce proper identification documents, you are required to sign a statement that you are the registered voter you claim to be in order to cast a ballot. This statement is subject to felony penalties.

If you do not want to sign this statement, you may cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot is a ballot reviewed within 7 days of the election by the local electoral board. Your vote will then be counted if all forms have been completed correctly, AND

You will need to submit a copy of a valid ID to your registrar by 12:00 noon the Friday after the election. The election officers at your voting location will provide you with instructions on how to do so.

Yes, it is your constitutional right to vote if you are in line at your designated polling location before 7:00 pm. If the time crosses 7:00 pm and you have not voted, remain in line until you are able to cast your ballot.

​​If you have a complaint related to your registration or voting experience, the law provides several options for you to take action.

1. Send a letter to the Virginia Department of Elections.
   Address: Virginia Department of Elections
   1100 Bank Street, First Floor
   Richmond, VA 23219
2. Go to: www.elections.virginia.gov/voter-complaints and file an informal complaint form online.
3. Send an email to info@elections.virginia.gov

Be sure to provide as much information as you can in the complaint.  The complaint will be sent to the Department of Elections, and to your general registrar.