Virginia's Voter Registration Deadline Is Today, Oct. 15

Dems, GOP hustle to register voters before deadline

Both presidential campaigns are ramping up their efforts to get new voters signed up before today's voter registration deadline in Virginia. 

Virginians can register to vote in today by mail or by going to their local election offices before 4:30 p.m. Mailed applications that carry today's postmark, Oct. 15, will be accepted.

Elections officials are also urging voters who are already registered to check their registration status and polling places online. Some precinct and poll locations have changed as a result of census-related redistricting in Virginia. Fairfax County officials estimate as many as 200,000 people may not be able to cast their ballot on November 6 or may go to the wrong polling location because of registration difficulties. 

The commonwealth could decide this year's election and both presidential campaigns know it. This weekend, while President Obama hunkered down in Williamsburg preparing for Tuesday's debate, hundreds of Obama for America volunteers canvassed neighborhoods across the state helping sign up new voters and courting new volunteers. The Romney campaign is also active in the state, having contacted more than 4 million voters since April.

The GOP candidate's son, Craig Romney, was in Blacksburg and Roanoke Saturday signing up new voters and trying to convince as many as possible to vote early via an absentee ballot. Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan will try to rally support in Lynchburg and Fredericksburg tomorrow.