Virginia High Schoolers Eligible to Vote in Special Election

Roughly 120,000 current high school students can vote in upcoming redistricting vote

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:05pm

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Virginia law allows 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the general election to vote in primary and special elections. This means that almost all high school seniors and many juniors in Virginia can vote in the upcoming April 21 special election on redistricting. Experts estimate around 120,000 current high school students will be eligible to vote in this special election.

Why it matters

Allowing high school students to vote in special elections like this one on redistricting gives them a voice in shaping the political landscape that will impact them for years to come. This is an important civic engagement opportunity for young Virginians to make their voices heard on a critical issue.

The details

Virginia is holding a statewide ballot measure on April 21 to change the district lines for electing members of Congress through 2030. The state allows 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the general election to vote in primary and special elections. This means that almost all high school seniors and many juniors in Virginia can register and vote in this upcoming special election.

  • The voter registration deadline for the April 21 special election is April 14.
  • The June 16 primary election has a voter registration deadline of June 5.
  • The November 3 general election has a voter registration deadline of October 23.

The players

Melody Barnes

The founding executive director of the University of Virginia's Karsh Institute of Democracy.

Laura W. Brill

The founder and CEO of The Civics Center, a project of Community Partners.

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What they’re saying

“Virginia allows young people to preregister to vote from age 16, so everyone who will be 18 this November, can register right now — the deadline for the special election is April 14.”

— Melody Barnes, Founding Executive Director, Karsh Institute of Democracy (pilotonline.com)

“If you are a teen, a parent or an educator in high school, here's what you need to know about the opportunity for Virginia's high school students. Young Virginians who will be 18 by the Nov. 3 general election can vote in primary elections and special elections this year.”

— Laura W. Brill, Founder and CEO, The Civics Center (pilotonline.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This opportunity for high school students to vote in the upcoming special election on redistricting highlights the importance of civic engagement and giving young people a voice in the political process. It's crucial that eligible students register and make their voices heard on this critical issue.