📌Local General Registrar
Your local General Registrar—also known as the Director of Elections or Voter Registrar—is responsible for maintaining accurate voter registration records, processing applications, and ensuring the integrity of elections in your community. As an appointed official working under the supervision of the local Electoral Board, the General Registrar serves as the primary resource for voter registration questions and assistance, representing the public face of the local electoral process.
The local voter registrar:
- Provides voter registration forms
- Accepts voter registration applications and requests for a transfer or change of address from residents of any county or city in the Commonwealth
- Maintains the official voter registration list
- Maintains additional public places for voter registration
- Provides assistance with absentee voting
- Participates in programs to educate the general public and encourage registration
- Coordinates with election officials to ensure smooth elections
- Answers voter questions about registration and voting procedures
How to Register to Vote: You can register to vote (1) at the local registrar's office in your city or county, (2) online at Citizen Portal | VA Dept. of Elections, or (3) at various other locations listed at How to Register | VA Dept. of Elections.
📌Local Electoral Board
The local general registrar is also known in some counties and cities as the Director of Elections or as the Voter Registrar. As an appointed official, the general registrar for a county or city is the public face of the local electoral process and works under the supervision of the local Electoral Board.
The Electoral Board is responsible for the conduct of elections and for the verification of election results. Members are appointed by the chief judge of the local Circuit Court. Electoral boards may delegate some of their duties to the general registrar. However, core supervisory functions such as protection of ballots, evaluation of the registrar's performance, appointment of officers of election representative of political parties, and certification of election results may not be delegated to the registrar.