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

DATE: SUNDAY, August 13, 1995                   TAG: 9508160011
SECTION: DISCOVER ROANOKE VALLEY                    PAGE: 41   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HERE'S HOW TO GO ABOUT VOTING

Virginia voters may cast their ballots with relative ease if they remember to register at least one month before the election. The deadline for registering for this year's general election is Oct. 10.

To register, 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 turn 18 by Nov. 7 may register and vote.

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

Voter registration is statewide, which means that voters may register anywhere in the state of Virginia for the locality in which they live. Voters can find out the location of their voting place by asking their registrar.

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

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 473-8235.

Bedford

The registrar's office is in City Hall and is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 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 may also register at Richards Grocery Store in Hardy, Moneta Farm Service in Moneta and at all Bedford County library facilities.

Craig County

The registrar has office hours in the county office building from January until July from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; during August through December from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. 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.

Virginia's voter registration system is likely to change in January because of the National Voter Registration Act, commonly known as the "motor voter" bill. For more information, call the State Board of Elections, (800) 552-9745.

by CNB