Botetourt County voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, for the 2026 general and special elections, with federal races, a special local election, town races and three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution appearing on ballots.
While the federal races and the special election for clerk of the Circuit Court will appear on ballots throughout the county, the rest of the ballot will depend on where a voter lives.
Voters countywide will choose one candidate for the U.S. Senate and one candidate for the Sixth District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The countywide ballot also includes a special election for clerk of the Circuit Court to fill the unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2031. Chad Simmons is listed on the sample ballot for the clerk’s race.
The special election was called following the announcement by Clerk Tommy L. Moore that he will retire effective Dec. 31, 2026. A writ of special election was issued by the Botetourt County Circuit Court in July.
For voters within Botetourt County’s three incorporated towns, the ballot will include additional local races.
Buchanan voters will choose two members of Town Council. The sample ballot lists Marlon E. “Marty” Rickman and Shean C. Bowers, with two write-in options.
The town races differ from one community to the next, with Buchanan voters choosing Town Council members while Fincastle voters will see both a mayoral race and a Town Council race.
Fincastle voters will choose a mayor and three Town Council members. Mary Bess Smith is listed for mayor, while Paige Wright Ware, Pamela D. Binns and Edward D. Bordett are listed for Town Council. The ballot also provides write-in options in both races.
Troutville voters will likewise have local races in addition to the countywide contests, although the offices and names appearing on their ballots differ from those in Buchanan and Fincastle.
The Troutville ballot includes a mayoral race with a write-in option. Voters also will choose three Town Council members. Granville E. Grant and Henry John Cook Jr. are listed for Town Council, along with three write-in options.
Voters who live outside the town limits will not vote in the town races. The county’s non-town ballot includes the federal races, clerk of Circuit Court race and constitutional amendments.
Regardless of whether they live in one of the three towns or in an unincorporated part of the county, Botetourt voters also will be asked to decide three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution.
The three questions address separate areas of Virginia law, ranging from reproductive and fertility care to marriage and voting rights.
Question 1 asks whether the Virginia Constitution should be amended to protect personal decisions involving prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management and fertility care. The proposed amendment also addresses protections for doctors, nurses and patients and would permit restrictions on abortion during the third trimester, except when the patient’s health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive.
Question 2 asks whether the Constitution should be amended to remove the ban on same-sex marriage, affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender or race, and require legally valid marriages to be treated equally under the law.
Question 3 asks whether the Constitution should be amended to establish a fundamental right to vote, change the qualifications concerning people convicted of felonies so that voting rights are automatically restored upon release from incarceration, and replace existing language concerning people found to be “mentally incompetent” with language concerning people found to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting.
The same three constitutional questions appear on the sample ballots for Buchanan, Fincastle and Troutville.
Once voters know what will appear on their particular ballot, the next question is when and where they can cast it.
In-person early voting is underway at the Botetourt County Department of Elections and Voter Registration, 2 E. Main Stret in Fincastle. Early voting will continue through 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Regular weekday hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with additional weekend hours scheduled for Oct. 18, Oct. 24, Oct. 25 and Oct. 31.
The county’s election office will be closed Oct. 12 in observance of the Columbus Day holiday. The additional early-voting hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 24; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25; and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 31.
For those who choose to vote in person on Election Day, the process differs from early voting, including where ballots are cast.
There is no voting at the Voter Registration Office on Election Day. Voters must report to their assigned precinct, with polling places open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Botetourt County has 10 precincts, with the Buchanan, Fincastle and Troutville precincts also serving voters within those respective towns. The county lists Buchanan Elementary School as the polling location for Buchanan Precinct 301, Fincastle Baptist Church as the polling location for Fincastle Precinct 406, and Troutville Elementary School as the polling location for Troutville Precinct 501.
The deadline to register to vote for the Nov. 3 election is Oct. 23. The deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot is also Oct. 23 at 5 p.m., while in-person early voting continues through Oct. 31 at 5 p.m.
Voters who receive a mailed absentee ballot and later decide to vote in person must bring the absentee ballot package with them to surrender it. Otherwise, they will be required to vote a provisional ballot.
Voters also can check their registration status and assigned polling location through the Virginia Department of Elections. The county’s Elections and Voter Registration Office can be reached at 540-928-2120.
With the races, constitutional questions and local contests varying by location, voters can review their individual ballot and polling place before heading to the polls Nov. 3.
For sample ballots, polling locations, voter registration information and other election details, visit BotetourtVA.gov/vote.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
