Want to mail in your vote for the 2020 elections?

You can complete a simple application online through the state's Department of Elections website.

November 3 isn't that far off, and everyone is thinking about social distancing in everyday life. If you'd rather cast your ballot through the mail, you have until October 23 to apply.

The first thing you should do is go to the official website for the Virginia Department of Elections. Log in or register to create an account and make sure you are registered to vote. Once the system has identified you, you'll see an option to "Apply to Vote by Mail." Go ahead and click on that to proceed.

You'll need your Virginia driver's license or a state-issued identification card to apply, so be sure to have that on hand. From start to finish, applying online should take no more than a few minutes. If you feel more comfortable printing out the application, you can do that too and mail it back or deliver it in person to your general registrar's office.

A word of caution: third-party groups are out in full force, sending out mailings encouraging residents to apply for mail-in ballots. One group, The Center for Voter Information, recently discovered a major error in their efforts to reach Virginia voters. Pre-paid envelopes they included with the application forms were addressed incorrectly, sparking major concerns all around.

To be on the safe side, use the state's official website as your primary resource for all of your election day questions or pay a visit to your local general registrar. When in doubt, you can always give the office a call at (800) 552-9745 during regular business hours. Remember, the deadline to apply for mail-in voting for the November 3 election is 5 p.m. on October 23, 2020.

**The photos in this article are courtesy of the Virginia Department of Elections.

Have you applied to vote by mail this year? How did the process go for you? Let us know in the comments!