Absentee voting for the Nov. 6 general election begins this Friday for all qualified Virginians.

Absentee voting in-person or by mail is an option for plenty of voters who are unable to make it to their local polling places on Election Day.

There are 20 lawful reasons to vote absentee. Some of those reasons include attending a college or university outside the locality of residence, working and commuting for more than 11 hours during the 13 the polls are open, pregnancy or a religious obligation. A full list of valid reasons to be an absentee voter can be found at vote.virginia.gov.

“Absentee voting is a great option for those who can’t make it to the polls on Election Day,” Department of Elections Commissioner Christopher Piper said in a press release. “Whether you vote absentee by mail or in-person, it is important that you exercise your right to vote.”

While voting absentee is a convenient way to exercise the right to vote, there are deadlines coming up soon.

The general voter registration deadline is Oct. 15, and those that wish to mail in their ballot must do so by 5 p.m. Oct. 30.

In-person absentee voting is available Monday through Friday during regular registrar office hours, but they will also offer additional opportunities on two Saturdays prior to Election Day, Oct. 27 and Nov. 3.

A valid photo ID must be presented when voting in-person for absentee voting.

Additional information, including hours and locations of registrar offices, acceptable forms of ID cards and requesting an absentee ballot can be found online at vote.virginia.gov.

Election coverage schedule

Suffolk candidates have posted their signs and are passing out pamphlets as they prepare for the Nov. 6 election. The Suffolk News-Herald will be running stories on candidates for City Council and School Board leading up to the election.

School Board candidates:

Oct. 3 — Chuckatuck Borough: Sherri Story and Diane Foster

Oct. 10 — Cypress Borough: Karen Jenkins and Costellar Ledbetter

Oct. 17 — Holy Neck Borough: Lorita W. Mayo and Sonya Allen

Oct. 24 — Thelma Hinton and Tyron Riddick

City Council candidates:

Oct. 7 — Chuckatuck Borough: Mike Duman

Oct. 14 — Cypress Borough: Leroy Bennett

Oct. 21 — Holy Neck Borough: Tim Johnson

Oct. 28 — Suffolk Borough: Art Bredemeyer and Donald Goldberg