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Virginia voter guide: Upcoming special election to fill late Rep. Connolly’s seat

Check back with ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ for special election resultsÌýon Tuesday night. ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ will haveÌýelection analysis and team coverageÌý, online and on our social media platforms.

From left, James Walkinshaw and Stewart Whitson meet in a forum in Virginia.(²ÝÝ®´«Ã½/Scott Gelman)

Voters in Fairfax City and Fairfax County, Virginia, will elect a candidate Tuesday to fill the Congressional seat vacated by the late Rep. Gerry Connolly.

The special election on Sept. 9 to will select Connolly’s successor in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, which is home to more than 700,000 people. The district has become reliably Democratic; it includes all of Fairfax City and much of Fairfax County.

Longtime Democratic Congressman Connolly died in May after a battle with cancer. He served the congressional district for 16 years.

The special election will select Connolly’s successor in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, which is home to more than 700,000 people. The district has become reliably Democratic; it includes all of Fairfax City and much of Fairfax County.

James Walkinshaw, Connolly’s former chief of staff and the Braddock District supervisor, won the Democratic primary back in June. Before his death, Connolly endorsed Walkinshaw as his successor.

Stewart Whitson, a former FBI agent and Army combat veteran, is the Republican nominee.

Most early voting locations opened Aug. 29.

Friday is also the deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot. Requests must be received by 5 p.m.

Here’s what you need to know.

Dates at a glance:

  • Deadline to apply for mail-in ballot: Friday, Aug. 29 at 5 p.m.
  • In-person early voting: Finished onÌýSaturday, Sept. 6
  • 11th Congressional District Special Election Day: Tuesday, Sept. 9. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

²ÝÝ®´«Ã½’s Scott Gelman spoke with both candidates in July about key issues.

Voting in-person

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Voters could through Tuesday, Sept. 2.

If you miss the deadline, there’s still the option to cast anytime through election day. A local electoral board reviews those provisional ballots before they are counted.

Make sure to bring along aÌý, such as a driver’s license, military ID or passport.

Nine early voting locations opened on Friday, Aug. 29:

  • Burke Centre Regional, Centreville Regional, Great Falls and Herndon FortnightlyÌýlibraries.
  • Franconia, Sully and West SpringfieldÌýgovernmental centers.
  • Jim Scott and LortonÌýcommunity centers.

Two government : the Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax and the North County Governmental Center in Reston.

Early voting ended the Saturday before the special election, Sept. 6.

For details on the hours the early voting locations are open, . All early voting locations will be closed on Labor Day.

Those who are 65 years old and older or who have a disability have the option ofÌý.

Voting absentee

To be counted, the absentee ballots need to be mailed with a postmark on or before Sept. 9.

Ballots must be put in a drop box by 7 p.m. on Sept. 9 or postmarked by Sept. 9

Those ballots need to be received by the office of elections by noon on Friday, Sept. 12.

The deadline has passed to request an absentee ballot. The by Friday, Aug. 29 at 5 p.m. for a mail-in ballot.

Virginians who are overseas can find instructions on absentee voting on.

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Jessica Kronzer

Jessica Kronzer graduated from James Madison University in May 2021 after studying media and politics. She enjoys covering politics, advocacy and compelling human-interest stories.

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