A primary is an election where voters select which candidates will be on the general election ballot. Primary elections typically take place around 6-9 months before the general election, which is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

• Super Tuesday is one day in February or March when multiple states hold their presidential primary election. While the number of states that participate in Super Tuesday varies from election to election, typically around 1/3 of all delegates can be won on Super Tuesday.
• The states and territories participating in the 2024 Super Tuesday election: Alabama, Alaska Republican presidential caucuses, American Samoa presidential caucuses, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa Democratic caucus, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah Democratic presidential primary and Republican presidential caucuses, Vermont and Virginia.

• Find your polling location
• On-campus voting at Godwin Hall is open on election day for on-campus JMU students registered as residents of Harrisonburg.

U.S. Citizens over 18 who are registered to vote. Some state primaries require voters to be registered with a particular political party to participate in the primary election (Virginia is not one of these).

Yes, you must be registered to vote to participate.

No.

• In Virginia, in order to same-day register, you must vote at your local precinct.
• Bring your JACard and a utility bill or your lease. 

• No. Because Virginia has open primaries and does not require party registration, Virginia residents registered to vote can vote in either party's primary, but cannot vote in both.
• To see which candidates are on the ballot, check the VA department of elections website.

• Requirements vary state by state, but some states require a form of identification or other documentation. Check your state's local elections website for particular state requirements.
• In Virginia, the same rules for general election IDs apply for primaries; voters may provide either an acceptable form of ID or sign an ID Confirmation Statement at the polls.

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

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.

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.