Elections inVirginia are authorized under Article I of theVirginia State Constitution, sections 5–6, and Article V which establishes elections for the state-level officers, cabinet, and legislature. Article VII section 4 establishes the election of county-level officers. Elections are regulated under state statute 24.2-102. TheVirginia State Board of Elections oversees the execution of elections under state law. In a 2020 study, Virginia was ranked as the 12th easiest state for citizens to vote in.[1]
Voters do not register by party in Virginia, and Virginia conductsopen primaries where any voter may cast a ballot for either party. Traditionally, political parties could choose which nomination method to use for each election, with the option to either participate in the state-run primary or conduct a party-runconvention.[2] A law which passed in 2021 and took effect in 2024, requires a party's method of nomination to make certain accommodations forabsentee voters, had the practical effect of outlawing party-run conventions.[3][4]
In general elections, the party affiliations of local candidates do not appear on the ballot. Candidates for federal, statewide, and General Assembly offices appear on the ballot with party designations.[5] Besides theDemocratic Party of Virginia and theRepublican Party of Virginia, other parties include theLibertarian Party of Virginia, Constitution Party of Virginia,Green Party of Virginia, and theIndependent Greens of Virginia. Third parties and independents have benefited fromelectoral reform in Virginia, especially streamlinedballot access, and have made their presence known by appearing on statewide ballots and even winning seats tosoil and water conservation district boards.
In 2009, GovernorTim Kaine proposed to authorize no-excuse early voting in Virginia elections, noting that 26 other states allow it.[6] On January 26, 2009, the bill passed the Democratic-controlled Senate.[7] However, the Republican-controlled House of delegates killed the proposal.
Governor Kaine worked with a coalition of civic groups to work to restore thevoting rights of felons who were convicted of non-violent crimes in the past. Kaine's staff reviewed each individual application from felons who had been out of prison for at least five years without an additional conviction. An estimated 366,000 Virginia citizens are disenfranchised due to a prior felony conviction.[8]
TheCommonwealth ofVirginia holds its stategeneral elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November (better known asElection Day) in every odd-numbered year. As a result of this,gubernatorial elections in Virginia systematically follow the quadrennialUnited States presidential election by one year.
During general elections in Virginia, elections are held for the statewide executive positions ofgovernor,lieutenant governor, andattorney general. Elections are also held for legislative positions in theSenate of Virginia and theVirginia House of Delegates and the county-level offices ofCommonwealth's attorney,sheriff,clerk of court,Treasurer, andCommissioner of the Revenue. Officials elected to the House of Delegates serve a term of two years, and clerks of court are elected to eight-year terms. All other officials are elected for a term of four years.[9][10][11]
Virginia'sgovernor,lieutenant governor, andattorney general are elected at large every four years. State senators and members of theHouse of Delegates are elected insingle-member districts. County-level officials are elected by county.
Virginia has 100 seats in its House of Delegates, and 40 seats in its Senate.
Virginia Government balance of power
Office | Party in Power | Assumed Control | Next Election |
---|---|---|---|
Governor | Republican (Youngkin) | January 15, 2022 (Youngkin) | November 4, 2025 |
Lieutenant governor | Republican (Sears) | January 15, 2022 (Sears) | November 4, 2025 |
Attorney general | Republican (Miyares) | January 15, 2022 (Miyares) | November 4, 2025 |
Virginia Senate | Democrat (21/40 seats) | January 2020 (21/40 seats) | November 2, 2027 |
Virginia House of Delegates | Democratic (51/100 seats) | January 2024 (51/100 seats) | November 4, 2025 |
Year | Democratic | Republican |
---|---|---|
1953 | 54.8%226,998 | 44.3%183,328 |
1957 | 63.2%326,921 | 36.4%188,628 |
1961 | 63.9%251,861 | 36.2%142,567 |
1965 | 47.9%296,526 | 37.7%212,207 |
1969 | 45.4%415,695 | 52.5%480,869 |
1973 | 49.3%510,103 | 50.7%525,075 |
1977 | 43.3%541,319 | 55.9%699,302 |
1981 | 53.6%760,357 | 46.4%659,398 |
1985 | 55.2%741,438 | 44.8%601,652 |
1989 | 50.1%897,139 | 49.8%890,285 |
1993 | 40.9%733,527 | 58.3%1,045,319 |
1997 | 42.6%738,971 | 55.8%969,062 |
2001 | 52.2%984,177 | 47.0%887,234 |
2005 | 51.7%1,025,942 | 46.0%912,327 |
2009 | 41.3%818,950 | 58.6%1,163,651 |
2013 | 47.8%1,069,789 | 45.2%1,013,354 |
2017 | 53.9%1,409,175 | 45.0%1,175,731 |
2021 | 48.6%1,600,116 | 50.6%1,663,596 |
Year | Republican / Whig | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 2,075,085 | 46.05% | 2,335,395 | 51.83% | 95,461 | 2.12% |
2020 | 1,962,430 | 44.00% | 2,413,568 | 54.11% | 84,526 | 1.89% |
2016 | 1,769,443 | 44.43% | 1,981,473 | 49.75% | 231,836 | 5.82% |
2012 | 1,822,522 | 47.28% | 1,971,820 | 51.16% | 60,147 | 1.56% |
2008 | 1,725,005 | 46.33% | 1,959,532 | 52.63% | 38,723 | 1.04% |
2004 | 1,716,959 | 53.68% | 1,454,742 | 45.48% | 26,666 | 0.83% |
2000 | 1,437,490 | 52.47% | 1,217,290 | 44.44% | 84,667 | 3.09% |
1996 | 1,138,350 | 47.10% | 1,091,060 | 45.15% | 187,232 | 7.75% |
1992 | 1,150,517 | 44.97% | 1,038,650 | 40.59% | 369,498 | 14.44% |
1988 | 1,309,162 | 59.74% | 859,799 | 39.23% | 22,648 | 1.03% |
1984 | 1,337,078 | 62.29% | 796,250 | 37.09% | 13,307 | 0.62% |
1980 | 989,609 | 53.03% | 752,174 | 40.31% | 124,249 | 6.66% |
1976 | 836,554 | 49.29% | 813,896 | 47.96% | 46,644 | 2.75% |
1972 | 988,493 | 67.84% | 438,887 | 30.12% | 29,639 | 2.03% |
1968 | 590,319 | 43.36% | 442,387 | 32.49% | 328,785 | 24.15% |
1964 | 481,334 | 46.18% | 558,038 | 53.54% | 2,895 | 0.28% |
1960 | 404,521 | 52.44% | 362,327 | 46.97% | 4,601 | 0.60% |
1956 | 386,459 | 55.37% | 267,760 | 38.36% | 43,759 | 6.27% |
1952 | 349,037 | 56.32% | 268,677 | 43.36% | 1,975 | 0.32% |
1948 | 172,070 | 41.04% | 200,786 | 47.89% | 46,400 | 11.07% |
1944 | 145,243 | 37.39% | 242,276 | 62.36% | 966 | 0.25% |
1940 | 109,363 | 31.55% | 235,961 | 68.08% | 1,283 | 0.37% |
1936 | 98,336 | 29.39% | 234,980 | 70.23% | 1,274 | 0.38% |
1932 | 89,637 | 30.09% | 203,979 | 68.46% | 4,326 | 1.45% |
1928 | 164,609 | 53.91% | 140,146 | 45.90% | 603 | 0.20% |
1924 | 73,312 | 32.79% | 139,716 | 62.48% | 10,574 | 4.73% |
1920 | 87,456 | 37.86% | 141,670 | 61.33% | 1,873 | 0.81% |
1916 | 49,356 | 32.05% | 102,824 | 66.77% | 1,812 | 1.18% |
1912 | 23,288 | 17.00% | 90,332 | 65.95% | 23,356 | 17.05% |
1908 | 52,572 | 38.36% | 82,946 | 60.52% | 1,547 | 1.13% |
1904 | 48,180 | 36.95% | 80,649 | 61.84% | 1,581 | 1.21% |
1900 | 115,769 | 43.82% | 146,079 | 55.29% | 2,360 | 0.89% |
1896 | 135,379 | 45.94% | 154,708 | 52.50% | 4,587 | 1.56% |
1892 | 113,098 | 38.70% | 164,136 | 56.17% | 15,004 | 5.13% |
1888 | 150,399 | 49.46% | 152,004 | 49.99% | 1,684 | 0.55% |
1884 | 139,356 | 48.90% | 145,491 | 51.05% | 130 | 0.05% |
1880 | 83,533 | 39.47% | 128,083 | 60.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
1876 | 95,518 | 40.42% | 140,770 | 59.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
1872 | 93,463 | 50.47% | 91,647 | 49.49% | 85 | 0.05% |
1860 | 1,887 | 1.13% | 16,198 | 9.71% | 148,806 | 89.16% |
1856 | 0 | 0.00% | 90,083 | 59.96% | 60,150 | 40.04% |
1852 | 58,732 | 44.29% | 73,872 | 55.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
1848 | 45,265 | 49.20% | 46,739 | 50.80% | 0 | 0.00% |
1844 | 44,860 | 46.95% | 50,679 | 53.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
1840 | 42,637 | 49.35% | 43,757 | 50.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
1836 | 23,384 | 43.35% | 30,556 | 56.64% | 5 | 0.01% |
After theAmerican Civil War (1861–1865), Virginia was in political turmoil. 48 former counties now inWest Virginia were gone, soon to be joined by two more. The Commonwealth of Virginia unsuccessfully appealed to theU.S. Supreme Court. In the remaining area, many citizens, mostly males ofAfrican American heritage, were newly enfranchised to vote. Many others, primarily former Confederates, were initially disenfranchised.
Elections resumed after 5 years as a U.S. Military District, and control was chaotic. In the late 1870s, a coalition of Conservative Democrats, Republicans, and African Americans was assembled and theReadjuster Party took power for about 10 years. After U.S. SenatorWilliam Mahone and theReadjuster Party lost control of Virginia politics around 1883, white Democrats regained the state legislature. They proceeded to use statute and a new constitution in 1901, with provisions such as a poll tax, residency requirements, andliteracy test to disfranchise most African Americans and many poor whites. Their disfranchisement lasted until after the passage of civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s.
White Democrats created a one-party state, with a nearly unchallenged majority of state and most federal offices through the middle of the 20th century. TheByrd Organization headed byHarry F. Byrd Sr. largely controlled statewide politics. Through their leadership and activism in the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans gained national support for passage of theCivil Rights Act of 1964 and theVoting Rights Act of 1965, which provided Federal oversight and enforcement to maintain all citizens' ability to vote. Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, decisions affecting elections are subject to preclearance by the U.S. Department of Justice before they can take effect.
President Lyndon Johnson's and national Democrats' support for civil rights turned many conservative whites in Virginia against the Democrats. However, many Virginians had been willing to support Republicans, at least at the national level, since the 1930s due toFranklin Roosevelt's strong support for organized labor. While the Republican Party in most of the South tended to attract right-wing conservatives likeJesse Helms andStrom Thurmond, Virginia's GOP has tended to be more moderate by regional standards. The state elected moderateRepublicanA. Linwood Holton Jr. in 1970; Holton became the first Republican governor in the 20th century, effectively ending the influence of the Byrd Organization. The currentVirginia State Constitution was created in 1971 to replace the discriminatory one created in 1901. Holton was succeeded by two other Republican governors: the more conservativeMills Godwin (a former Democrat) andJohn N. Dalton. Five-term U.S. SenatorJohn Warner and CongressmanTom Davis also exemplified the more "moderate-conservative" tendencies of Virginia Republicans. From 1982 through 1994, Democrats served as governor, withChuck Robb elected in 1981 andGerald L. Baliles in 1985. In 1989, Virginia elected DemocratDouglas Wilder governor, who served from 1990 to 1994, as Virginia's first African-American governor. In 2001, Virginia elected DemocratsMark Warner as governor andTim Kaine as lieutenant governor, and Kaine was elected to succeed Warner as governor in 2005. In 2009, however, a Republican again returned to the governor's mansion asBob McDonnell defeated Democrat Creigh Deeds, garnering 58.61% of the popular vote to Deeds' 41.25%. Republicans also managed to sweep all statewide races in 2009, the first time they accomplished this feat since 1997.
Virginia voted for Republicans in nearly every presidential election from 1952 to 2004 except for the Democratic landslide in President Johnson's election in1964. This former streak started whenRichard Nixon began theSouthern Strategy, and is the longest among the formerConfederate States. Virginia was the only such state to vote forGerald Ford overJimmy Carter in1976. Since 2008, Virginia has voted for Democrats in presidential elections, includingBarack Obama; in 2016, Virginia was the only former Confederate state to vote forHillary Clinton overDonald Trump.
In 1989,Doug Wilder was the first African-American electedgovernor of aU.S. state. Despite Virginia's support of Republican presidential candidates and reputation as a conservative state, voters elected Democratic candidates for three consecutive gubernatorial races in the 1980s. In addition, Democratic representatives maintained large majorities in both houses of theVirginia General Assembly. Many Democratic state representatives from rural and suburban districts had conservative stances on various issues.
In the 1990s Virginia experienced some political realignment, electing conservative RepublicansGeorge Allen andJim Gilmore to the governorship from 1994 until 2002.Jim Gilmore's "no car tax" pledge was emblazoned onbumper stickers and yard signs across the state. Republicans captured both houses of the General Assembly and built majorities. Republican representatives replaced Conservative and moderate Democrats from rural and suburban areas. Within the Republican party, more conservative officeholders supplanted the remnants of the less conservative "mountain-valley" faction of Holton, so named because many members were from the Shenandoah Valley and Southwest Virginia.
After eight years of Republican governorships, in 2001,Mark Warner, a progressive businessman, won the governorship and confronted budget difficulties related to the recession by cutting money from all state departments. Virginia's executive branch is limited by the fact that governors are barred from serving consecutive terms, a constitutional provision that distinguishes Virginia from any other state. After decades of Democratic rule in theVirginia General Assembly,Republicans took control around the turn of the 21st century and promptlyredistricted to protect their incumbents. In 2005Tim Kaine, Warner'slieutenant governor, won the governor's office overJerry Kilgore and "independent Republican" state senatorRuss Potts.
In 2006,Jim Webb narrowly defeated George Allen in the wake of theMacaca slur incident. The electorate's reaction to Allen'sgaffe demonstrated the changing sensibilities of the region's citizens; prior to that, Allen had a double-digit lead in the polls.[13] In 2007, Virginia driver fees legislation created a political uproar when residents realized that they faced $3,000 fines for certainmoving violations. An online petition quickly gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures, spurring legislators up for re-election that November to reconsider their positions. This was the first time that the Internet played such a dramatic role in influencing Virginia politics.[14] In 2007, the Democrats regained control of the State Senate, and narrowed the Republican majority in the House of delegates to 7 or 8 votes.[15]
Virginia voted for DemocratBarack Obama in 2008, after backing Republican candidates for the previous tenpresidential elections.[16] Virginia may be considered a "swing state" for future presidential elections.[17] Its margin for Obama of 6.3% made it a close indicator of the national vote (a 7.2% Obama margin).
In the November 2009 general election RepublicanBob McDonnell won the governorship by an 18% margin, while Republican lieutenant governor and Attorney General candidatesBill Bolling andKen Cuccinelli also won their respective races.[18] They led statewide gains by the Republican party winning five additional seats in theHouse of Delegates.[19] In the November 2010 federal elections, Republicans picked up three U.S. House seats previously held by Democrats, and proceeded to hold eight of Virginia's eleven seats, compared to three for Democrats. In the November 2018 federal elections, Democrats picked up three U.S. House seats previously held by Republicans, and proceeded to hold seven of Virginia's eleven seats, compared to four for Republicans. From 1977 until 2013, Virginia had elected a governor of the opposite political party compared to thePresident of the United States of the time.
In2017, Virginia returned to electing a governor of the opposite political party compared to the current President by electingRalph Northam. This happened again whenGlenn Youngkin waselected in 2021.
The following table lists all state and federal regular elections from 1976, along with the voter turnout.[20]
Year | Registered | Percentage change from previous year | Total voting | Turnout (% voting of total registered) | Voting absentee (included in total voting) | Elections |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | State:Governor,Lieutenant Governor,Attorney General,House | |||||
2020 | 5,975,696 | 6.18% | 4,486,821 | 75.08% | 2,687,304 | Federal:President,Senator (II),House |
2019 | 5,628,035 | -1.0% | 2,383,646 | 42.4% | 144,360 | State:Senate,House |
2018 | 5,666,962 | 3.31% | 3,374,382 | 59.5% | 287,763 | Federal:Senator (I),House |
2017 | 5,489,530 | -0.73% | 2,612,309 | 47.6% | 182,256 | State:Governor,Lieutenant Governor,Attorney General,House |
2016 | 5,529,742 | 6.41% | 3,984,631 | 72.05% | 496,452 | Federal:President,House |
2015 | 5,196,436 | -1.60% | 1,509,864 | 29.1% | 62,605 | State: Senate,House |
2014 | 5,281,011 | 0.78% | 2,194,346 | 41.6% | 123,221 | Federal:Senator (II),House |
2013 | 5,240,286 | -3.5% | 2,253,418 | 43.0% | 121,359 | State:Governor,Lieutenant Governor,Attorney General,House |
2012 | 5,428,833 | 6.1% | 3,858,043 | 71.06% | 447,907 | Federal:President,Senator (I),House |
2011 | 5,116,929 | 1.68% | 1,463,761 | 28.61% | 59,519 | State: Senate,House |
2010 | 5,032,144 | 1.54% | 2,214,503 | 44.01% | 106,888 | Federal:House |
2009 | 4,955,750 | -1.57% | 2,000,812 | 40.4% | 88,182 | State:Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General,House |
2008 | 5,034,660 | 10.7% | 3,723,260 | 74.0% | 506,672 | Federal:President,Senator (II),House |
2007 | 4,549,864 | - 0.1% | 1,374,526 | 30.2% | 30,619 | State: Senate,House |
2006 | 4,554,683 | 2.3% | 2,398,589 | 52.7% | 116,629 | Federal:Senator (I),House |
2005 | 4,452,225 | - 1.5% | 2,000,052 | 44.92% | 75,982 | State:Governor, Lieutenant Governor,Attorney General,House |
2004 | 4,517,980 | 7.1% | 3,198,367 | 70.79% | 222,059 | Federal:President,House |
2003 | 4,217,227 | - 0.1% | 1,296,955 | 30.8% | 35,716 | State: Senate,House |
2002 | 4,219,957 | 2.7% | 1,331,915 | 31.56% | 44,493 | Federal:Senator (II),House |
2001 | 4,109,127 | 0.9% | 1,905,511 | 46.4% | 52,344 | State:Governor,Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General,House |
2000 | 4,073,644 | 7.0% | 2,739,447 | 67.2% | 150,414 | Federal:President,Senator (I),House |
1999 | 3,808,754 | 2.3% | 1,373,527 | 36.1% | 10,686 | State:Senate,House |
1998 | 3,724,683 | 4.5% | 1,229,139 | 33.0% | 31,494 | Federal:House |
1997 | 3,565,697 | 7.3% | 1,764,476 | 49.5% | 47,571 | State:Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General,House |
1996 * | 3,322,740 | 9.4% | 2,416,642 | 72.7% | 116,606 | Federal:President,Senator (II),House |
1995 | 3,038,394 | 1.3% | 1,585,783 | 52.2% | 45,785 | State:Senate,House |
1994 | 3,000,560 | 0.9% | 2,078,106 | 69.3% | 81,636 | Federal:Senator (I),House |
1993 | 2,975,121 | -2.6% * | 1,817,777 | 61.1% | 53,904 | State:Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General,House |
1992 | 3,055,486 | 9.4% | 2,558,665 | 83.7% | 141,123 | Federal:President,House |
1991 | 2,791,747 | 2.1% | 1,371,940 | 49.1% | unreported | State: Senate,House |
1990 | 2,735,339 | -0.1% | 1,252,971 | 45.8% | 25,785 | Federal:Senator (II),House |
1989 | 2,737,340 | -4.9% * | 1,821,242 | 66.5% | 54,177 | State:Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General,House |
1988 | 2,877,144 | 8.3% | 2,231,876 | 77.6% | 108,237 | Federal:President,Senator (I),House |
1987 | 2,657,412 | 1.8% | 1,571,110 | 59.1% | 38,505 | State:Senate,House |
1986 | 2,609,698 | 0.5% | 1,115,179 | 42.7% | 22,589 | Federal:House |
1985 | 2,597,904 | -2.9% * | 1,377,966 | 53.0% | 32,943 | State:Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General,House |
1984 | 2,675,641 | 14.8% | 2,180,515 | 81.5% | 113,686 | Federal:President,Senator (II),House |
1983 | 2,330,595 | 4.3% | 1,178,707 | 50.6% | unreported | State: Senate, House |
1982 | 2,234,011 | 0.9% | 1,454,628 | 65.1% | 32,340 | Federal:Senator (I),House State: House |
1981 | 2,214,926 | -4.1% * | 1,437,382 | 64.90% | 30,584 | State:Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General,House |
1980 | 2,309,181 | 12.6% | 1,881,648 | 81.49% | 84,811 | Federal:President,House |
1979 | 2,050,499 | 1.2% | 1,059,158 | 51.65% | unreported | State: Senate, House |
1978 | 2,026,515 | 0.2% | 1,251,471 | 61.75% | 26,989 | Federal:Senator (II),House |
1977 | 2,022,619 | -4.8% * | 1,267,208 | 62.7% | 29,970 | State:Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, House |
1976 | 2,123,849 | 1,716,182 | 80.8% | unreported | Federal:President,Senator (I),House |
Northern Virginia has favored Democratic candidates in recent elections. In the2004 United States presidential election,John Kerry won Fairfax County, long a Republican stronghold, by 2.4% and generally fared better in the rest of Northern Virginia thanAl Gore did in 2000. Despite this increase, however, he still lost every other county exceptArlington County in Northern Virginia. In contrast to the changing voting trend in Northern Virginia, the majority of the rest of Virginia has been supportive of the Republican Party. Some portions of the state like college towns and the southeastern counties in theBlack Belt Region have been more likely to vote Democratic.
In 2005 and 2006, Democrats Tim Kaine (running for governor) andJim Webb (in a race for Senator) won nearly all jurisdictions within the Northern Virginia region. Alexandria residentMark Warner had not won so many jurisdictions when winning the governorship in 2001. By contrast, Warner performed comparatively strongly in rural areas, particularly Southwest Virginia. His campaign stressed respect for rural cultural values (such asgun rights) and strategies for economic development.
In the state's largest city, Virginia Beach (pop. 450,000), most elected officials are Republicans. However, most elected officials in the state's most populous county, Fairfax County (pop. 1,250,000), are Democrats. The Republican Party's strongholds are in the counties ofSouthwest Virginia,exurban Northern Virginia counties likeStafford, and Richmond suburbs likeHanover County. Democrats are dominant in the inner suburbs ofNorthern Virginia, the city ofCharlottesville and its suburbs inAlbemarle County, and industrial Hampton Roads cities ofNorfolk,Portsmouth,Newport News, andHampton, and also the city ofRichmond. The three most significant "swing districts" areLoudoun andPrince William counties in Northern Virginia andHenrico County in the Richmond suburbs. All three of these "swing" counties voted for PresidentGeorge W. Bush in 2000 and 2004,Barack Obama in 2008[21] and 2012, andHillary Clinton in 2016.[22] Democrats have won formerly Republican-held seats in the General Assembly in Loudoun and Prince William counties in the 2017 and 2019 elections.
That law, which went into effect in January, had one unintended consequence: It all but outlawed conventions in any election, including party primaries, in Virginia.
State legislation related to the administration of elections introduced in 2011 through this year, 2020