Every year is election year in Virginia! Long term care residents have a right to make their voice heard in every election, and providers should make every effort to assist them in doing so.

• Virginia’s general election day is November 4, 2025. 
• See who is on your ballot by viewing the candidate lists. Voters will be casting ballots for the three statewide offices, all 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates, and some local elections.

Take a look at the information and resources we have compiled to assist residents exercise this important right. We have included details on:

• how to help residents register to vote and cast mail-in/absentee ballots with Virginia-specific information;
• taking residents to the polls; and
• federal requirements for nursing facilities.

Help residents register to vote: The first step is making sure residents who want to vote are registered to vote. Deadlines to register vary by state; Check out Vote.gov to find the specifics for each state.

• Visit the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal website to start or update your registration online. Eligible individuals can register to vote by mail or in person.

Note the timelines for the November 4, 2025 election:

• Deadline to register to vote/update registration: October 24, 2025
• Early in-person voting: September 19 – November 1, 2025
• Apply for a ballot to be mailed to you: Through October 24, 2025

Help residents with mail-in/absentee ballots: For frail residents in LTC, absentee ballots may be an easier option than voting in-person.

• Virginia offers absentee and early voting options.
• Check out Can I Vote to find information about other states.
• When residents receive their ballots in the mail, ensure staff understand what they can and cannot help with when it comes to assisting residents in filling out their ballots. For example, an assistance provider should ask the voter what choice he or she wants to make. The assistance provider must never make assumptions regarding how a person wants to vote. If the resident has a Power of Attorney (POA), that person should be contacted about helping the resident fill out their ballot.
• Send in completed ballots as soon as possible, whether by mail or at local ballot drop boxes, if your state or county offers them.
• Many states also offer voters the ability to track their ballot online. Work with the resident or their loved one, if they wish to make sure their ballot was received and qualified to be counted. Sending in ballots quickly may help a resident address any issues flagged with their ballot promptly, to ensure it will be counted.

Take residents to the polls: Facilities may also want to encourage residents to get out to vote.

• One option for getting residents to the polls would be setting up and providing transportation to a local polling location. Some ways to find the closest polling location to your facility include:
• Checking voter registration for local polling facilities
• Contacting state or local election officials for information on polling locations
• Using the polling place locator tool from vote.org
• If transportation may be an issue, setting up a polling location within your facility may be a better option.

Federal regulations:  For nursing homes specifically, CMS has regulations regarding residents’ rights, including their rights as citizens, which would include the right to vote:

• §483.10(b) Exercise of Rights.  The resident has the right to exercise his or her rights as a resident of the facility and as a citizen or resident of the United States.

• • §483.10(b)(1) The facility must ensure that the resident can exercise his or her rights without interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal from the facility.

• • §483.10(b)(2) The resident has the right to be free of interference, coercion, discrimination, and reprisal from the facility in exercising his or her rights and to be supported by the facility in the exercise of his or her rights as required under this subpart. 

Review QSO-24-21-NH for more details on how nursing centers can collaborate with states and localities to ensure  residents have the  right to vote.

Additional resources: The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) affirm the right to a private, independent, and accessible vote for people with disabilities. Your state and local election commission can be a great resource on how the voting process in your state supports this right. Some additional resources to review are:

• Assisting Cognitively Impaired Individuals with Voting: A Quick Guide (2020), American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
• From the Alzheimer’s Association: Voting and Alzheimer’s Disease

Check out these organizations for additional resources on helping residents vote:

• Consumer Voice
• Disability Rights Network
• At a local level, you might also consider reaching out to your LTC Ombudsman office, the local AARP chapter, or your local election commission  to answer specific questions or get custom resources.