Winchester approved the 1% school sales tax and elected 3 new council members Nov. 3, with every ballot now counted. Here is how to register and vote next time.
Updated Nov. 14: every ballot group from Nov. 3 is now counted, including provisional ballots. Winchester approved the 1% sales tax for schools, 56.4% to 43.6%, and three of four council seats change hands. See our council and School Board results and sales tax results.
Last checked Oct. 18, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Winchester Office of Elections and Voter Registration and the Virginia Department of Elections. This guide is nonpartisan; it does not endorse any candidate or position.
Winchester voted in the Virginia General and Special Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The results below include every ballot group, provisional ballots too. The state labels them unofficial until the State Board of Elections ascertains them, by Dec. 7.
Nov. 3 results
From the Virginia Department of Elections’ results, all six precincts reporting, as of Nov. 14:
| Contest | Winner | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| City Council, First Ward | Miles K. Davis | 2,021 to 1,682 |
| City Council, Second Ward | Jennifer E. “Jenny” McDonald | 773 to 702 |
| City Council, Third Ward | Kim M. Herbstritt | 974 to 505 |
| City Council, Fourth Ward | Nate J. Prezzy | 1,339 to 896 |
| School Board, at large (two seats) | Kylie Gaynor Zoller and Melissa A. Harris | 5,596 and 4,651 |
| School Board, Fourth Ward | Don M. Comer | 1,081 to 806 |
| 1% sales tax for schools | Yes | 5,263 to 4,076 |
The provisional and late mailed ballots changed no result. The Second Ward margin widened from 67 votes to 71.
Who to call
- Office of Elections and Voter Registration: 107 N. East Lane, 540-545-7910, vote@winchesterva.gov. Weekday hours start at 8:30 a.m.
- Director of Elections and General Registrar: Elizabeth Martin
- Check your registration: Virginia voter lookup
- Find your polling place: state polling place lookup
Key dates for Nov. 3, 2026
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Friday, Sept. 18 | Early voting and mail ballots began |
| Sunday, Oct. 18 | Early voting noon to 5 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 23 | Last day to register or update your registration: 5 p.m. in the office, 11:59 p.m. online. Also the 5 p.m. deadline to apply for a ballot by mail. |
| Saturday, Oct. 24 | Early voting 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, Oct. 25 | Early voting noon to 5 p.m. |
| Saturday, Oct. 31 | Last day of early voting, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3 | Election Day, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at your precinct. No voting at the Office of Elections that day. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3; hand-delivered ballots must reach the office by 7 p.m. |
| Friday, Nov. 6 | Mailed ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 must arrive by noon to count |
What is on the ballot
According to the city’s election calendar:
- U.S. Senator (six-year term)
- U.S. Representative (two-year term). Winchester is in Congressional District 6 (PDF).
- Winchester City Council: one seat in each of the four wards (four-year terms)
- School Board: two at-large seats and one Fourth Ward seat (four-year terms)
- Proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution, explained in the state’s amendment brochure (PDF)
See the exact ballot for your precinct on the city’s sample ballots: Merrimans, Old Town, Virginia Avenue, War Memorial, Frederick Douglass and Rolling Hills (all PDFs).
Polling places
| Ward | Precinct | Polling place |
|---|---|---|
| First | 0101 Merrimans | John Kerr Elementary School, 427 Meadow Branch Ave. |
| First | 0102 Old Town | Christ Episcopal Church, 132 W. Boscawen St. |
| Second | 0201 Virginia Avenue | New location: The Douglas School, Winchester Public Schools central office, 598 N. Kent St. |
| Third | 0301 War Memorial | War Memorial Building (Jim Barnett Park Rec Center), 1001 E. Cork St. |
| Fourth | 0401 Frederick Douglass | Frederick Douglass Elementary School, 100 W. Cedarmeade Ave. |
| Fourth | 0402 Rolling Hills | New location: Canvas Community Church, 2333 Roosevelt Blvd. |
Check your ward on the city’s interactive voting wards map. The state lookup shows where an address votes but does not confirm that you are registered there.
ID at the polls
Since July 1, 2020, Virginia voters must show an acceptable ID, which no longer has to be a photo ID. The city’s acceptable ID chart (PDF) lists what counts. If you have none, you can sign an ID Confirmation Statement; otherwise you are offered a provisional ballot and have until noon the Friday after the election to provide a copy of an acceptable ID.
Registering and voting by mail
- Who can register: U.S. citizens who are Virginia residents and will be 18 by the next general election. Anyone convicted of a felony or declared incapacitated by a court must have their rights restored first.
- How: register online or mail the paper application (PDF) to the Office of Elections, 107-A N. East Lane. Forms are also at Handley Regional Library, the post offices at 340 N. Pleasant Valley Road and 132 N. Loudoun St., the DMV at 4050 Valley Pike and Rouss City Hall.
- Registration closes 21 days before a general or primary election. People who register by mail must vote in person the first time, with some exceptions.
- Mail ballots: apply online or by paper form (PDF); you can join the permanent absentee list. Track a returned ballot with Track My Ballot.
How Winchester elects its leaders
The mayor and City Council and School Board members are elected in even-numbered years to four-year terms. The mayor is elected at large. Council has eight members, two from each ward, elected in staggered pairs so one seat per ward is on the ballot every two years. Three School Board members are elected at large and four by ward.
What this means for you
- Not registered? You have until Friday, Oct. 23.
- Early voting at 107 N. East Lane ends Saturday, Oct. 31.
- Check your precinct: Virginia Avenue and Rolling Hills voters have new polling places.
- Election night results are unofficial until they are certified.
Related guides: who to call at City Hall and schools.
Frequently asked questions
When is the election in Winchester, Virginia?
The Virginia General and Special Election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and you vote at your own precinct.
What is the deadline to register to vote in Winchester?
Friday, Oct. 23, 2026: 5 p.m. in person at the Office of Elections, or 11:59 p.m. online. It is also the deadline to apply for a mail ballot.
Where can I vote early in Winchester?
At the Office of Elections, 107 N. East Lane, during business hours through Saturday, Oct. 31. It is also open noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.
Do I need a photo ID to vote in Virginia?
No. Since July 1, 2020, Virginia voters must show an acceptable ID, which does not have to be a photo ID. Without one, you can sign an ID Confirmation Statement.
Where is my polling place in Winchester?
Winchester has six precincts in four wards. Use the state’s polling place lookup or the city’s ward map; two precincts, Virginia Avenue and Rolling Hills, have new locations.
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