Virginia primary moves to August under new law

(The Center Square) – Virginia voters will cast primary ballots later than usual this year after lawmakers shifted the election from June to August.

House Bill 29, signed into law Friday, sets the 2026 primary for Aug. 4. The change applies only to this year’s election cycle and replaces Virginia’s long-standing practice of holding primaries in June.

Moving the primary also resets several deadlines. Early in-person voting begins June 19 and runs through Aug. 1. The deadline to register or update an existing voter registration is July 24.

Voters who miss that cutoff may still register and vote using a provisional ballot under Virginia’s same-day registration rules, which begin July 25.

Absentee voting follows the revised schedule as well. Requests for mailed absentee ballots will be accepted through July 24. Completed mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Aug. 4 and received by the voter’s General Registrar’s Office by noon on Aug. 7 to be counted.

The calendar adjustment comes ahead of a statewide ...