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Early voting begins Friday, July 25, in the special election to fill Virginia’s vacant 11th Congressional District seat. Voters will choose between Democrat James R. Walkinshaw of Merrifield and Republican Stewart L. Whitson of Great Falls.
Election Day is Tuesday, Sept. 9, and early in-person voting continues through Sept. 6. The vacancy followed the May 21 death of U.S. Rep. Gerald E. “Gerry” Connolly.
The district includes most of Fairfax County and all of Fairfax City. Only residents of the 11th District may participate in the special election. Voters can verify their registration and eligibility through the Virginia Department of Elections portal at Vote.Virginia.gov.
Early voting locations and hours
Early voting will be available from July 25 through Sept. 6 at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Conference Room 7, in Fairfax. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with Saturday voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 30 and Sept. 6.
The North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive in Reston, will be open from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours on Aug. 30 and Sept. 6 are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Both locations will be closed Monday, Sept. 1, for Labor Day.
Beginning Aug. 29, additional satellite voting sites will generally operate from 1 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 30 and Sept. 6. Those sites also will be closed on Labor Day.
The satellite locations are:
- Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke
- Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Germain Drive, Centreville
- Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria
- Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls
- Herndon Fortnightly Library, 768 Center Street, Herndon
- Jim Scott Community Center, 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax
- Lorton Community Center, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton
- Sully Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly
- West Springfield Governmental Center, 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield
Voters should contact their local registrar to confirm early-voting and satellite-site information.
Deadlines voters need to know
The first mail ballots will be sent July 25. Applications for a ballot by mail must be submitted by 5 p.m. Aug. 29.
The deadline to register normally or update an existing registration is Sept. 2. After that date, eligible residents may use same-day registration and cast a provisional ballot in person. On Election Day, same-day registration will be available only at the voter’s assigned polling place.
Early in-person voting ends at 5 p.m. Sept. 6. Election Day polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 9.
Mail ballots must be postmarked by Sept. 9 and received by noon Sept. 12.
Candidates make their cases
Walkinshaw said after winning the Democratic nomination that his campaign was driven by residents, volunteers and supporters focused on democracy, personal freedoms and working families. He pledged to fight for the district in Congress.
Whitson’s campaign presents him as a proven conservative with decades of experience and knowledge of Capitol Hill. His campaign says he would focus on the economy, public safety, and eliminating government waste, fraud and abuse.