Alexandria voters head to polls Tuesday in delayed congressional primaries

Alexandria voters head to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 4, for two party primaries held later than Virginia’s usual June primary schedule.

Polling places across the city are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must use their assigned polling place, according to the City of Alexandria’s election guidance. Ballot drop boxes will be available at all polling places during Election Day voting hours. A secure outdoor drop box at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections, 132 N. Royal St., will also be available until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

What Alexandria voters will decide

The Democratic ballot includes the primary for Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 8th District.

The Republican ballot includes the primary for Member of the United States Senate.

Virginia does not register voters by party. Eligible voters may choose either the Democratic or Republican primary ballot, but they may vote in only one primary.

The city’s sample-ballot page lists the contests and candidates for both party ballots. Voters should review the correct ballot and verify their assigned polling place before leaving home.

Early-vote snapshot shows different participation levels

As of July 19, Alexandria had counted 3,600 Democratic primary votes and 340 Republican primary votes, according to local reporting based on data from the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration and Elections.

The Democratic total included 2,798 mail ballots and 802 in-person early votes. The Republican total included 300 mail ballots and 40 in-person early votes.

Those figures are an early-voting snapshot, not a final turnout count and not an indication of election results. They show that Democratic primary participation was substantially higher than Republican primary participation at that point in the early-voting period.

Why the primary is in August

The August date is part of Virginia’s statewide 2026 primary schedule, not an Alexandria-only decision. The Virginia Department of Elections said the General Assembly changed the primary date from June 16 to Aug. 4 under legislation signed Feb. 20. The change applies only to the 2026 election year.

Alexandria’s in-person early-voting period ended Saturday, Aug. 1. Voters who still need to cast a ballot must go to their assigned polling place on Election Day between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Before leaving home

Voters should confirm their assigned polling location and review the correct Democratic or Republican sample ballot. Anyone returning a completed mail ballot may use an Election Day drop box during polling hours, including the secure outdoor box at the city election office.

For polling-place information, sample ballots and last-minute guidance, Alexandria voters should use the City of Alexandria’s official elections materials.

Sources

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