Early voting begins for special election for Virginia Senate, House seats

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Chesterfield County voters can cast their ballot to decide new legislators representing them in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates starting today.

Early voting for Chesterfield voters residing in Senate District 15 and House District 77 began Saturday, Dec. 27, at 9 a.m.

Now through Saturday, Jan. 3, voters can cast their ballot at Central Library, 7051 Lucy Corr Blvd. The facility will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 1, in observance of the New Year holiday, and there will be no voting on that day.

When voting in person, voters are asked to park on the side of the library and enter through the side door underneath the covered sidewalk. They can then enter the large meeting room across from the Cooperative Extension office, per Chesterfield officials.

There will be signs to guide those voting in person. The voting hours are as follows:

• Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 3: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The special election was called to fill the Senate District 15 seat previously held by Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi and the House District 77 seat. Hashmi will resign from her post on Jan. 17, 2026, when she officially takes office as Virginia’s 43rd lieutenant governor.

Del. Mike Jones (D-Richmond) won the Dec. 7 Democratic firehouse primary and will face off against the Republican nominee, John Thomas, in the special general election on Jan. 6, 2026, for the Senate District 15 seat.

Community activist Charlie Schmidt also won a firehouse primary on Dec. 14 and became the Democratic nominee for the House of Delegates seat soon to be vacated by Jones. Voters will choose between Schmidt and the Republican candidate Richard Stonage in the special election.

“Firehouse primaries are organized and operated by political parties, not by local or state government,” said Missy Vera, general registrar and director of elections with Chesterfield County. “It’s important for residents in these districts who may have participated in the firehouse primaries to vote in the special election, Jan. 6, so their vote can be officially cast for the candidate of their choice.”

Voters can drop off absentee ballots at the Central Library while the polls are open or at the Registrar's Office, located at 9848 Lori Road, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information on the Senate District 15 and House of Delegates District 77 special elections in Chesterfield, visit the General Registrar’s website.