Early voting started weeks ago in our region, and hundreds of thousands of voters have already cast their ballots across D.C., Maryland and Virginia. But for those who haven’t yet had the chance to vote, fear not, we have everything you need, including an overview of what’s at stake in each jurisdiction, what you can expect on your ballot, and all you need to know before heading to the polls.

You can also check out our in-depth voter guides for D.C., Maryland and Virginia here.

D.C.

What should I know about the election in D.C.?

It’s often been said that in D.C., it’s the Democratic primary that really counts, and this year it’s tough to argue with that. The city’s mayoral and attorney general’s races were hotly contested ahead of the June primary, as were some of the open seats on the D.C. Council. That’s less the case for Tuesday’s general election, except for the competitive eight-way race for two At-Large seats on the D.C. Council and a complicated. There’s also a controversial ballot initiative that, if passed, would phase out the tipped minimum wage.

But the election will also be notable for what it could mean for D.C. over the next two years — should Republicans take control of Congress, it could leave the city at risk of more aggressive GOP interference in local matters ranging from policing to abortion to public education.

So what’s going to be on my ballot in D.C.?

D.C. voters will be picking winners in a number of citywide races, including mayor, attorney general, D.C. Council Chairman, the two At-Large seats on the council, D.C. delegate to Congress, and shadow representative. Voters in wards 1, 3, 5, and 6 will additionally get to choose their own councilmembers, as well as their non-partisan representatives to the State Board of Education. And even closer to the ground, there are some 350 open Advisory Neighborhood Commission seats up for grabs. On the issues (and on the back of your ballot), D.C. voters will be asked to weigh in on Initiative 82, which would gradually eliminate the tipped wage in the city.

Alright, I’m ready to vote! What do I need to know about voting in D.C.? 

Well, plenty of people have already cast their ballots: as of Monday almost 100,000 D.C. residents had voted early in person or returned their mail ballots. For anyone who wants to use their mail ballot, they have until 8 p.m. tonight to drop it off at a vote center or a ballot drop box. It can also be mailed in, provided it is postmarked by today.

For those residents looking to take part in the usual Election Day pomp and circumstance, there are more than 90 vote centers located across D.C. open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you’re standing in line when polls close, you will still be allowed to vote.

D.C. doesn’t require that voters bring ID with them, though it is encouraged — especially if it’s your first time voting or you’ll be taking advantage of the city’s same-day voter registration. But even if you don’t have it with you, you’ll still be able to cast a ballot, albeit a provisional one that will need to be verified after the fact.

Maryland

What should I know about the election in Maryland?

It’s a big year in Maryland, with three statewide races – including governor – on the ballot. In Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties,county executives and council seats are up for election, along with several school board races. In addition, a referendum will ask Marylanders to weigh in on legalizing recreational marijuana. There’s also a competitive congressional race in Maryland’s 6th District, which includes parts of Montgomery County.

All General Assembly seats are up for re-election this year. To find the candidates for your district (which may have changed after redistricting), check here.

So what’s on the ballot in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties?

All Maryland voters will cast a ballot for governor, attorney general, and comptroller. In addition, voters will be asked to weigh in on Question 4, which would legalize recreational marijuana.

Residents of Montgomery County will elect a county executive, four at-large councilmembers, and seven County Council members, in addition to choosing several Board of Education members and other local offices.

And in that tight congressional race, incumbent Democrat David Trone is facing Republican State Delegate Neil Parrott in what was once a more solidly blue district; after redistricting, it includes parts of more conservative Frederick County.

Residents of Prince George’s County will find in most races on their ballots, the candidates are Democrats running unopposed. On the ballot are county executive, state’s attorney, two at-large councilmembers and nine county councilmembers,  in addition to members of the board of education and other local offices.

Alright, I’m ready to vote! What do I need to know about voting in Maryland? 

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

You can check the Maryland Board of Elections website to confirm your registration, find your polling place, and view a sample ballot. You can register to vote on election day by bringing a proof of residence to your polling place.

If you received a mail-in ballot, you must postmark it by 11:59 p.m. tonight, or you can drop it in a secure ballot drop box. You can find locations in Montgomery County here, and Prince George’s County here.

Virginia

What should I know about the election in Virginia?

It’s an off-year election in the commonwealth, where no statewide candidates are on the ballot (stay tuned for a raft of races for the General Assembly next year). But it’s the midterms, so even a boring year is pretty exciting in Virginia: voters are selecting candidates in the state’s 11 congressional districts. The outcomes in those races will help determine the balance of power on Capitol Hill next year. Some of them have been fiercely contested, with candidates going back-and-forth over big national issues like abortion, inflation, and cultural debates over public schools and parents’ rights.

So what’s going to be on my ballot in Virginia?

In the three closest contests — the 2nd District, the 7th District, and the 10th District — three Democratic incumbents are defending their seats against Republican challengers. Two of those races, the 7th and the 10th, are right here in Northern Virginia. You can read more about the local congressional races here, but here’s the short version:

In the 7th District, which includes much of Prince William County, the Fredericksburg area, and west into Orange and Culpeper counties, incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger, an ex-CIA officer, is attempting to fend off a challenge from Republican Yesli Vega, a Prince William County supervisor and auxiliary sheriff’s deputy. Spanberger has centered her campaign around her support for abortion access (Vega is an abortion access opponent, though she has sought to downplay her views on the subject on the campaign trail). Spanberger has also talked up Democratic legislative wins to lower the cost of healthcare for seniors and low-income people, and she was recently endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for her support for small businesses. In contrast, Trump-endorsed Vega has focused on inflation, parents’ rights, and her desire to cut back the size of government, even suggesting that she might shut the federal government down. Democracy overall has also been a focus of the race: Vega has previously questioned the results of the 2020 election and suggested that rioters on January 6th were exercising their First Amendment rights.

The 8th District, which includes Arlington County, Alexandria, Falls Church, and parts of Fairfax County, is generally considered a safe seat for Democrats. Nevertheless, incumbent Don Beyer has two challengers this election season: Republican Karina Lipsman, who’s worked in the defense industry, and independent Teddy Fikre, an IT expert and business consultant. Beyer is a high-ranking Democrat who leads the Joint Economic Committee and has been a proponent of the Green New Deal. During the midterm campaign, he’s raised concerns about Republican plans to force cuts to Social Security and Medicare programs if they retake a majority in the House.

Meanwhile, Lipsman has focused on parent’s rights and inflation. She has also criticized Beyer after a report surfaced that Beyer had fired an aide in his congressional office after discovering she had been reaching out to other congressional staffers on behalf of the Chinese embassy. Beyer’s spokesperson told The National Review that Beyer’s “hawkish” record on China speaks for itself, and that the congressman terminated the staffer immediately after discovering her actions.

In the 10th District (Loudoun County, Rappahannock County, Fauquier County, and parts of Prince William County and Fairfax County), incumbent Democrat Jennifer Wexton is running for re-election against ex-Navy captain and political newcomer Hung Cao. Conventional wisdom suggests that the district leans blue, but could flip if the GOP has a particularly good showing. Like Spanberger, Wexton has centered her campaign around defending abortion access and touting Democratic wins in Congress on prescription drug costs, infrastructure spending, and aid to Ukraine (Cao says he doesn’t support sending any more money to help the country turn back the Russian invasion). Cao, meanwhile, has criticized the state of the economy under Democratic leadership, suggesting he believes the cost of healthcare and overall cost of living would be better if the government paved the way for an unfettered capitalist free market. Parents’ rights and school culture-wars issues have also figured heavily in the race: Cao spent a lot of time trying to tie Wexton to a local Virginia state legislator’s proposal to enshrine special protections for LGBTQ children in child abuse law, a push Cao and other Republicans said would result in parents being jailed for failing to affirm their child’s gender identity (Wexton says she does not support the proposal).

In the 11th District, which includes most of Fairfax County, longtime Democratic incumbent Gerry Connolly — who is expected to win an easy victory in the blue district — is fending off a challenge from Jim Myles, a Republican judge. Connolly’s best known for his work to shore up protections and workplace conditions for federal workers, many of whom are also Northern Virginia voters. Myles, meanwhile, has mostly followed GOP talking points in his race, criticizing Democrats on inflation, the economy, and school culture-wars issues.

Depending on where you live, you might be asked to vote for some local candidates, too. There’s a county board race in Arlington and school board seats on the ballot in Arlington and Loudoun. Several local towns and cities — think Herndon, Leesburg, Purcellville, and more — are also electing mayors and/or local councils.

Alright, I’m ready to vote! What do I need to know to vote in Virginia? 

Polls are open on Election Day in Virginia from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. Voters still in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

There have been scattered reports of people winding up at the wrong polling place; after redistricting and incorrect information sent to some voters, it’s a good idea to check first. You can find your polling location here, and make sure to bring an ID to the polls.

If you’re voting a mail-in ballot, you can put it in a drop box or postmark it by Election Day for it to be counted. Mailed ballots must arrive at your local registrar by Monday, Nov. 14. Remember, you need a witness signature on your mail-in ballot.

Want to vote but haven’t registered yet? For the first time, Virginians can register to vote at the polls on Election Day and cast a provisional ballot at the same time. Your registration information will be examined by the local electoral board to determine if it is valid — if so, your vote will be counted.