The polls are open for absentee in-person voting through Oct. 31

Absentee voting at the Mason Government Center.

Voting is already underway for the Nov. 4 election. You can vote absentee in-person at the Mason Government Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Monday-Friday, 3:30-7 p.m. through Oct. 31 and Saturdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Nov 1. Voting will not take place on Columbus Day, Oct. 13.

The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 14. Not sure if you’re registered? Verify your status here.

To be eligible to vote absentee, you must be unable to get to the polls because of illness or disability, be a college student out of town, be away for business purposes, be at work or commuting on Election Day, or meet other criteria listed on the Office of Elections website.

The last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail, fax, or email is Oct. 28, 5 p.m. You can download an application for an absentee ballot or pick one up at county government centers and libraries.

Absentee ballots must be received by the Office of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

A huge change in voting requirements takes effect for this election: Voters must produce an acceptable photo ID, such as a valid Virginia driver’s license or passport. If you don’t have a photo ID, you’ll have to vote on a provisional basis; for your vote to count, you’ll need to submit a copy of a valid photo ID to the local electoral board by noon on the Friday after Election Day. See the Virginia State Board of Elections for more details on the photo ID requirement.

In another change, this will be the first election using Fairfax County’s new voting machines. The county purchased 1,125 voting machines for $6.4 million last year. Voters will mark a paper ballot and insert it in the machine which will scan it and inform the voter that their vote has been cast. Six hundred of the new machines are accessible ExpressVote machines for people with disabilities.

Here’s what Annandale/Mason residents will find on the ballot:

U.S. Senate candidates: Sen. Mark Warner, the Democratic incumbent, is opposed by Ed Gillespie (R) and Robert Sarvis (Libertarian).

U.S. Congress candidates: In the 11th District, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D), the incumben,t is opposed by Suzanne Scholte (R), Joe Galdo (Green), and Marc Harrold (L).

Candidates in the 8th congressional district are Micah Edmond (R), Donald Beyer Jr. (D), Jeffrey Carson (L), Gerard Blais III (Independent Green), and Gwendolyn Beck (I).

Fairfax County transportation bond: Voters will be asked to vote on a $100 million bond that would provide $77.5 million for pedestrian improvements (including Columbia Pike, Little River Turnpike, Annandale Road, Backlick Road, Braddock Road, and Edsall Road), $16 million for road improvements (including North Chambliss and Beauregard streets), and $6.5 million to improve bicycle accessibility (including Wakefield Chapel Road and the Cross County Trail).

Virginia constitutional amendment: Voters will be asked whether a home owned by the surviving spouse of a member of the armed services killed in action should be tax exempt.