Early Voting Begins For 2026 Election: What's On The Ballot In Arlington

ARLINGTON, VA — Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election begins on Friday. Arlington voters will cast ballots for treasurer, school board, and an at-large member of the county board. Plus, they will be choosing who will be respresenting them on Capitol Hill.

Republican Bert Mizusawa defeated challengers David E. Williams and Kim Farington in the Aug. 4 Republican Primary. Mizusawa faces incumbent Senator Mark Warner (D).

In the 8th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Don Beyer defeated four primary challengers in August: Mo Seifeldein, Adam M. Dunigan, Michael Christian Duffin, and Lorena Thorne Bruner. Beyer faces Republican Tony Sabio, Libertarian Shelly M. Arnoldi, and independent Tim S. Sharman in the Nov. 3 general election.

Member, United States Senate

• Mark R. Warner - D
• Bert Mizusawa - R
• Write-in

Member, House Of Representatives (8th District)

• Don Beyer -D
• Tony Sabio - R
• Shelly M. Arnoldi - L
• Tim S. Sharman - I
• Write-In

Treasurer (Special Election for unexpired term to end Dec. 31, 2027)

• Kim M. Rucker
• Aasim S. Rawoot
• Write-in

Member School Board

• Bethany Zecher Sutton
• James Vell Rives IV
• Write-in

Member County Board (Ranked Choice Voting)

• Matthew D. "Matt" de Ferranti - D
• Audrey R. Clement - I
• David P. Sisson- I
• Write-in

(Sample Ballot PDF)

In the Nov. 3 election, Arlington voters will decide whether or not to approve five separate bonds:

Metro and Transportation - $69,745,000

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $69,745,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and other transit, pedestrian, road or transportation projects?

Local Parks and Recreation - $34,945,000

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $34,945,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for local parks & recreation?

Community Infrastructure - $58,825,000

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $58,825,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects, including but not limited to facilities maintenance capital, facilities design and construction, information technology, the Arlington Neighborhoods Program, and other County infrastructure?

Utilities - $20,745,000

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum amount of $20,745,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of designing, expanding, improving, and renovating Arlington County’s Water Pollution Control Plant and the water and sewer systems serving the County?

Arlington Public Schools - $80,000,000

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $80,000,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for Arlington Public Schools?

In addition, Virginia voters will find three statewide questions on the ballot:

Question 1: Reproductive Freedom

The ballot question reads:

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to (i) protect the freedom to make personal decisions about prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management, and fertility care; (ii) protect doctors, nurses, and patients from being punished for these decisions; and (iii) allow for restrictions on access to abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy except when the patient's health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive?

Summary: The amendment would establish a constitutional right to reproductive freedom and protect patients and those assisting them from punishment for exercising that right. It would allow the state to regulate third-trimester abortions, but require exceptions when a physician determines an abortion is needed to protect the pregnant patient's life or physical or mental health, or when the fetus is not viable.

Question 2: Marriage Equality

The ballot question reads:

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to (i) remove the ban on same-sex marriage; (ii) affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race; and (iii) require all legally valid marriages to be treated equally under the law?

Summary: The amendment would remove Virginia's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, which the Department of Elections explains is unenforceable under the U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. It would prohibit denying marriage licenses to two adults based on sex, gender or race and require equal treatment of lawful marriages.

Question 3: Voting Rights

The ballot question reads:

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended (i) to provide for the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth, (ii) to revise the qualifications of voters so that a person convicted of a felony is not entitled to vote during his period of incarceration but is automatically invested with the right to vote upon release from incarceration, and (iii) to update the existing prohibition on voting by persons found to be mentally incompetent to instead apply to persons who have been found to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting?

Summary: The amendment would establish a fundamental right to vote for qualified voters and automatically restore voting rights to people convicted of felonies upon release from incarceration, without requiring restoration by the governor. It would also require a specific court finding that a person cannot understand the act of voting before voting rights can be removed on grounds of incapacity.

How To Vote

From Friday, Sept. 18 to Saturday, Oct. 31, Arlington County voters will be able to cast in-person ballots at Courthouse Plaza. Two other early voting locations — Walter Reed Community Center and Langston-Brown Community Center — will be open Oct. 22 through Oct. 31. Scroll down to view hours.

The deadline to file for a by-mail ballot is Friday, Oct. 23. Completed ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on that day. Ballots can be returned via mail, in-person at the polls or at a ballot drop box.

The deadline to register or to update registration information is Friday, Oct. 23. Applications must be returned in person by 5 p.m. or online by 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 23. Check your registration status at the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal.

On Election Day, Nov. 3, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find your polling location on the Virginia Department of Elections website.

Early Voting Locations

Courthouse Plaza (2100 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 320)

• Dates: Sept. 18 – Oct. 31
• Regular Hours: Monday – Friday: 9 a.m.– 5 p.m.
• Extended Hours: Oct. 22, 23, 29, 30 (Thursday and Friday): 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Weekend Hours:
  
  • Saturday (Oct. 17, 24, 31): 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Sunday (Oct. 18 & 25): 11 a.m. – 4 p.m..

Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th St. South)

• Thursday & Friday (Oct. 22, 23, 29, 30): 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Saturday (Oct. 17, 24, 31): 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Sunday (Oct. 18 & 25): 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Langston-Brown Community Center (2121 North Culpeper St.)

• Thursday & Friday (Oct. 22, 23, 29, 30): 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Saturday (Oct. 17, 24, 31): 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Sunday (Oct. 18 & 25): 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.