Virgin Islands Elections 2020

Virgin Islanders, facing the threat of the coronavirus as well as hurricane season, will have a much easier—and safer—time voting this fall because of important changes to how and where eligible voters can cast ballots.

Under a law passed after advocacy by AARP Virgin Islands, absentee voting is now available to voters for this election, with no excuse required.

On Election Day, people may also use new voting centers to cast ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Virgin Islanders will choose a nonvoting delegate to the U.S. House and members of the unicameral Virgin Islands Legislature, and select candidates for the boards of elections and education.

Registered voters can get absentee ballots online at vivote.gov. Registering to vote must be done in person; the deadline to do so for the general election is Oct. 3. 

Absentee ballots do not require a witness signature unless the voter needs assistance. In that case, the person assisting must sign an affidavit. Ballots can be dropped in the mail without postage.

To prevent fraud, an absentee ballot can be sent only to those who request one. The Elections System of the Virgin Islands, when counting ballots, makes sure the absentee ballot was requested.

To be counted, absentee ballots must be placed in the mail by Election Day and received within 10 days of the election.

Virgin Islanders can also vote early, in person, from Oct. 5 to Oct. 28.

Given uncertainties over mail delivery, AARP is urging voters to cast their ballots as early as possible, whether by mail or in person.

Extra safety measures are being taken to protect against COVID-19. Upon entering, voters will have their temperature taken. Those whose temperature is at or above 100.4 degrees must wait in a designated area to allow it to drop. If the temperature remains high, the voter will be issued an absentee ballot to drop in the mail.

“We will ... ensure each voter casts their ballot safely,” said Terrell Alexandre, acting deputy supervisor (St. Croix District) of the Elections System.

Each voting center will have greeters to ensure that all voters wash their hands or use sanitizer, which will be provided.

As an additional precaution, the door will be opened and closed for each voter, and social distancing will be practiced.

No more than four people will be allowed to vote at a time. Masks are required and will be provided to those who don’t have one.

Obtain more information by visiting the VI Voter Guide page here: aarp.org/VIvotes


—Susan Milligan