Changes

Virginia does not have formal early voting.  However, Virginia provides for both mail-in and in-person absentee voting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2012/10/inperson-absentee-voting-starts-today-va|title=In-person absentee voting scheduled today in Va.|first=Julian|last=Walker|work=The Virginian-Pilot|date=October 27, 2012|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref> To vote absentee, the voter must fill out an affidavit stating that one of several reasons for absentee voting applies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/AbsenteeVoting.html|title=Absentee Voting|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref>  In contrast, in early voting states, any voter can vote before election day without stating a reason.

Virginia does not have formal early voting.  However, Virginia provides for both mail-in and in-person absentee voting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2012/10/inperson-absentee-voting-starts-today-va|title=In-person absentee voting scheduled today in Va.|first=Julian|last=Walker|work=The Virginian-Pilot|date=October 27, 2012|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref> To vote absentee, the voter must fill out an affidavit stating that one of several reasons for absentee voting applies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/AbsenteeVoting.html|title=Absentee Voting|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref>  In contrast, in early voting states, any voter can vote before election day without stating a reason.

The absentee voting period begins 45 days before election day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2012/09/early-voting-period-virginia-has-begun|title=Early voting period in Virginia has begun|first=Julian|last=Walker|work=The Virginian-Pilot|date=September 30, 2012|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref>

The absentee voting period begins 45 days before election day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2012/09/early-voting-period-virginia-has-begun|title=Early voting period in Virginia has begun|first=Julian|last=Walker|work=The Virginian-Pilot|date=September 30, 2012|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref>  In response to [[Hurricane Sandy]] reducing in-person absentee voting opportunities before the 2012 election, on October 28, 2012, Republican Governor [[Robert McDonnell]] announced that he was requesting the State Board of Elections to expand the number of in-person absentee voting hours between the end of the storm and the election day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailypress.com/news/breaking/dp-mcdonnell-urges-caution-and-preparation-will-expand-hours-for-absentee-voting-20121028,0,982955.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hrdailypress%2Fnews+%28Daily+Press+-+Front+Page+News%29|title=McDonnell urges caution and preparation; will expand hours for absentee voting|first=Todd |last=Wilson|work=Hampton Roads Daily Press|date=October 28, 2012|accessdate=October 30, 2012}}</ref>

== References ==

== References ==