
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 1, 1993                   TAG: 9307300453
SECTION: DISCOVER                    PAGE: D-58   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HERE'S HOW TO GO ABOUT VOTING

Voters in Virginia can cast their ballots with relative ease if they remember to register at least one month before the election.

There are few requirements for registrants. A person must be 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, mentally competent and never been convicted of a felony.

A 17-year-old who will be 18 by Nov. 2 (this year's Election Day) may register and vote.

Virginia has no minimum residency requirement and, unlike many states, does not require voters to register a party preference.

The deadline for registering for this year's general election is Oct. 4.

Voter registration is now statewide, which means that voters may register anywhere in the state of Virginia for the locality in which they live.

Voters who plan to be away on Election Day may cast absentee ballots by mail or in person at the registrar's office.

Voters who want to cast absentee ballots by mail must file a request at least five days before the election to provide enough time for the ballot to be mailed by Election Day. Those who want to cast an absentee ballot in person must do so at least three days before the election.

Voters can find out the location of their voting place by asking their registrar. A number for the registrar is listed under local governments in the blue pages of the telephone book.

Here is information on where to register:

\ ROANOKE: The registrar's office is in the old Municipal Building at 215 Church Ave. S.W., room 109. It is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The telephone number is 981-2281.

\ ROANOKE COUNTY: The registrar's office is at 5204 Bernard Drive, third floor. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The phone number is 772-7500.

\ SALEM: The registrar's office is at 19 E. Clay St. It is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The office phone number is 375-3034.

\ BOTETOURT COUNTY: The registrar's office is at the old post office building at 2 E. Main St. in Fincastle. It is open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone number is 992-8235.

\ BEDFORD CITY: The registrar's office is in City Hall and is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday from August until January; and Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from January until August. The phone number is 586-7157.

\ BEDFORD COUNTY: The registrar's office in the county administration building in suite 204 is open 8:30 a.m. to noon and 12:45 to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. The phone number is 586-7649.

Bedford County residents also may register at Richards Grocery Store in Hardy, and Moneta Farm Service in Moneta and at all Bedford County library facilities.

\ CRAIG COUNTY: The registrar has office hours in the county office building on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is 864-6190.

\ FRANKLIN COUNTY: The voter registration office in the Virgil H. Goode Building is open weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number is 483-3025.

Staff writer Joel Turner contributed to this story.

by CNB