Voting in Chesterfield County is overseen by Missy Vera, the General Registrar and Director of Elections. The office, located at 9848 Lori Road, manages voter registration and ensures accurate voting records for the county’s 275,000 registered voters. In the 2024 general and special elections, voter turnout reached 73%, reflecting high civic engagement.
The Registrar’s Office operates weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering assistance on registering to vote, updating information, finding precinct locations, or working as an election officer. Details are also available online through Chesterfield’s official website.
To register in Virginia, residents must be U.S. citizens, live in Virginia, and be at least 18 years old by the next general election. Registration can be completed online, by mail, at the Registrar’s Office or DMV locations. Upon processing, voters receive a registration card. Those who move or change their name must update their information to avoid issues at polling stations.
College students can use their dormitory or apartment address for registration purposes. Military members and overseas Americans participate under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). People with felony convictions require rights restoration from the Governor before they may register; those declared mentally incompetent by a court are not eligible to vote.
Chesterfield offers several voting methods: early in-person voting begins 45 days before each election at Central Library on Lucy Corr Blvd., with five additional libraries serving as satellite polling places during general elections. Mail-in voting is also available—voters apply for absentee ballots online or in person and return them via mail or secure drop boxes located throughout early voting sites and polling places.
On Election Day polls operate from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; voters should go to their assigned precincts as listed on their registration cards or found through Virginia’s voter portal (https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/Lookup/status). Provisional ballots are available if eligibility questions arise; these are reviewed post-election by the Electoral Board according to state law.
Voters must present an acceptable ID such as a Virginia driver’s license or military ID; a full list is posted on the state elections website (https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/photo-ids-required-to-vote/). Curbside voting is offered for seniors and individuals with disabilities at all polling locations.
Residents interested in civic participation beyond voting can serve as Officers of Election—registered Virginia voters who help operate polling sites on Election Day after receiving training.
For further details about registering or participating in elections locally, residents may contact the registrar’s office directly or consult resources provided by both Chesterfield County and the Virginia Department of Elections (https://www.elections.virginia.gov/).
“Vera and her team register voters and maintain accurate voting records,” said Missy Vera. “The Registrar’s office is dedicated to promoting transparency in the conduct of elections and providing the public with confidence that elections in Chesterfield are fair, accurate and safe.”
“Officers of election are at the heart of democracy, working on the front lines to uphold the integrity of the electoral process,” added Vera.
