Voter Guide to June 12 Primaries

In less than a month, Virginia voters will head to the polls for the Democratic and Republican primaries on Tuesday, June 12. Across Northern Virginia, voters will decide among candidates for the U.S. Senate as well as for the 8th and 11th Congressional districts.

If your polling place is holding both a Republican primary and a Democratic primary, you can only vote in one primary. 

If you aren't registered to vote, you have until Monday, May 21 at 5 p.m. to register.

Little known fact: If you are 17 years old now but you are turning 18 by the Nov. 6 general election, you can vote in the June 12 primary. If you plan to do this, call your voter's registration office ahead of time and be sure to bring official proof of your age.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Congressional Boundaries have Shifted

Congressional district boundaries in Virginia have shifted due to population changes noted in the 2010 Census. The 8th district now includes less of the Lorton area and less of the McLean area, but added some areas near Reston. The 10th district no longer represents areas north of Warrenton to Front Royal, but added some areas around Oakton and Burke. The 11th district no longer represents areas near Mount Vernon, Lorton and west of Burke, but added parts of Reston and Centreville.

Here are links to maps from the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) showing the new and old maps:

8th Congressional District Map

10th Congressional District Map

11th Congressional District Map

Some voting locations have also changed. If you're unsure where to go to vote, you can plug in your address on the State Board of Elections website.

Republican Primary Election for U.S. Senate Race

Voters across Virginia will choose among the following GOP candidates for the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Jim Webb (D):

• , former governor and U.S. senator
• E.W. Jackson
• , delegate

The winner in the GOP primary election for U.S. Senate will face former Gov. Tim Kaine (D), who did not face opposition from his own party, in the general election in November. 

8th Congressional District Democratic Primary Election

The 8th Congressional District includes all of the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, the City of Falls Church and part of Fairfax County. Due to boundary changes, anyone who lives in the Reston or Mount Vernon area should double-check which congressional district they live in. Residents in the 8th Congressional District will vote in a Democratic primary election to decide between candidates:

• Incumbent Congressman

The winner will face GOP contender  of Alexandria, who lost to Moran in November 2010, and , an independent.

11th Congressional District Republican Primary Election

The 11th Congressional District is comprised of Fairfax City, much of Fairfax County and Prince William County. Residents in the 11th Congressional District will vote in a Republican primary election between two candidates who will then face incumbent Congressman Gerry Connolly (D) in the fall:

Frequently Asked Questions

The State Board of Elections recently mailed out new voter cards to some voters due to the shifting congressional district boundaries. Here are answers to questions about that, from the Fairfax County Office of Elections: 

Why did I receive a new voter card?

There are two reasons why a voter may have received a new voter card:

1. As a result of the 2010 Census, Congressional Districts were altered to ensure they were as close in population as possible.  The voter may have received a card to inform them of a change in their Congressional Representation.
2. Many long-registered voters still had voter information cards which contained their Social Security numbers. The State Board of Elections mailed a new card which replaced the Social Security number with a voter identification number to voters who, according to the SBE records, had not received a card since the changeover removing the SSN was made.

I just received a new voter card and the Congressional District is wrong.

The General Assembly just completed the required adjustments of Congressional district boundaries after the Census. The voter card is the notice of your new district.

Why do the County websites not show my new district?

The Office of Elections does not control the content of other sites and some sites lag behind the latest information. The voter card you just received contains the official information on your current representation.

Why does my voter card indicate my language preference?

As a result of the 2010 Census, it was determined that Fairfax County now falls under the Provision 203 of the Voting Rights Act. This provision requires Fairfax County to provide voting and elections related materials in a specified language.