How Chesterfield Counts Your Mail-In Ballot
TL;DR: Chesterfield County election officials demonstrated how mail-in and absentee ballots are verified, counted, and securely stored through a multi-step process involving envelope verification, machine sorting, and electronic tabulation.
Quick facts
- Who: Chesterfield County election workers; Ben Walls, WRIC 8News reporter
- What: Tour of election office showing mail-in ballot handling, verification, counting, and secure storage
- When: Demonstration aired on WRIC (date of report not specified in available sources)
- Where: Chesterfield County election office
The story
Election officials in Chesterfield County demonstrated the complete process for handling mail-in and absentee ballots in a tour of the county's election office, showing residents how ballots are verified, counted, and securely stored to ensure every vote is properly recorded.
The process begins before Election Day. Mail-in ballots are scheduled to be mailed to voters on September 14, and voters who do not receive their ballot by September 28 should contact the registrar's office at 804-748-1471. When voters return their ballots, they can use secure drop boxes at all regular polling places, the registrar's office, or early voting locations. Election workers track ballot receipt through the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal.
Once returned, election workers perform a verification step called the "Cure" process to ensure the outer envelope is correct and confirm all required information is present and accurate: name, address, signature, year, and the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number. Bundles of verified ballots are then presented to the Central Absentee Precinct (CAP) for processing. A Tritek machine sorts ballots by magisterial district and precinct, while election workers use digital tablets called "Poll Pads" to assist with verification and security checks. An Election Systems and Software DS450 tabulator counts the ballots and records results before they are sealed away for security and certification.
County officials reminded voters that if they are standing in line when polls close at 7 p.m., they have a legal right to complete their ballot under Virginia election law. Officers of election must record the names of all qualified voters in line at 7 p.m. and permit those voters to vote, even if it takes longer to process them after the official closing time.
Key players
- Chesterfield County Registrar's Office: Administers ballot processing and verification
- Ben Walls: WRIC 8News reporter who covered the tour
- WRIC 8News: Media outlet reporting on election procedures
Key dates
- 2026-09-14: Mail-in ballots scheduled to be mailed
- 2026-09-28: Deadline for voters not receiving ballots to contact registrar
- 2026-11-03: Election Day; polls close at 7 p.m.
Why it matters: Understanding the ballot-counting process builds voter confidence in election integrity by demonstrating the multiple verification steps and security measures Chesterfield County uses to ensure every vote is accurately recorded and counted.
Places
Development timeline
- 2026-09-14Mail-in ballots mailed to voters: Chesterfield County begins mailing absentee ballots to registered voters [source]
- 2026-10-23Last day to request absentee ballot by mail: Deadline for voters to submit absentee ballot requests to the registrar [source]
- 2026-11-03Election Day: Polls open; voters can also return absentee ballots. Polls close at 7 p.m., but voters in line by that time can complete their ballots [source]
- 2026-11-06Deadline for mailed ballots: All mailed ballots must be received by the general registrar's office by noon [source]
Related links
- Election 2026: Your Guide to Voting in Chesterfield
- General Registrar - Chesterfield County
- Voting and Registering to Vote
- Virginia Department of Elections
Read the original at WRIC 8News (YouTube) →
Sources
- Election 2026: Your Guide to Voting in Chesterfield
- WATCH: How are absentee ballots counted in Chesterfield?
- General Registrar - Chesterfield County
- Virginia Code 24.2-603: Hours polls to be open; closing the polls
- Virginia Department of Elections