Virgin Islanders will head to the polls Tuesday, November 3, to choose the territory's next governor and lieutenant governor, delegate to Congress, members of the 37th Legislature, and representatives to the Boards of Education and Elections, following an early-voting period that drew 12,242 voters across St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John.
Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. at 11 designated voting centers across the territory. The Elections System of the Virgin Islands has confirmed that voters may cast their ballots at any voting center within their election district, rather than being restricted to a specific neighborhood precinct.
The general election follows the August 1 Democratic primary, but unlike that contest, participation is not limited to registered Democrats. Eligible registered voters may participate regardless of party affiliation.
Five governor and lieutenant governor tickets are competing, along with two candidates for delegate to Congress and dozens of candidates seeking seats in the Legislature and on the territory's elected boards.
The following guide explains where residents can vote, which candidates appear on the ballot, the results of early voting, and the procedures voters should know before arriving at a voting center.
Where to vote on Election Day
The Elections System has published updated lists of the 11 voting centers for Tuesday's election.
St. Croix
Voters in the St. Croix District may cast their ballots at any of the following five locations:
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D.C. Canegata Recreation Center
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St. Dunstan's Episcopal School Auditorium
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St. Croix Educational Complex High School Gymnasium
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St. Joseph Church Hospitality Lounge
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Claude O. Markoe Elementary School
Important polling-location change: The St. Croix Central High School Modular Gymnasium will not serve as a voting center Tuesday because its air-conditioning system is not functioning.
The Elections System has designated the St. Croix Educational Complex High School Gymnasium and St. Joseph Church Hospitality Lounge among the five locations available to voters. Officials said signage would be placed at Central High School to redirect anyone who arrives expecting to vote there.
St. Thomas
The four voting centers on St. Thomas are:
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Charlotte Amalie High School — Sprung facility
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Ivanna Eudora Kean High School Cafeteria
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Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center at the University of the Virgin Islands
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Tutu Park Mall, opposite Carlos Furniture
St. John
The two voting centers on St. John are:
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Julius Sprauve Elementary School
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Guy Benjamin Community Center
Voters are not limited to the voting center closest to their homes. They may select any authorized center within their election district.
St. Croix constitutes one election district, while St. Thomas and St. John share another.
The Elections System has confirmed that voters who are already in line when the polls close at 7 p.m. will be permitted to vote.
The official voting-center notices are available for St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John.
Early voting closes with 12,242 ballots cast
Early voting concluded Saturday, October 31, with 12,242 residents having participated, representing approximately 38 percent of the territory's active registered voters, according to Supervisor of Elections Caroline F. Fawkes.
The final breakdown was 6,217 voters on St. Croix, 5,624 on St. Thomas and 401 on St. John.
The figures exceeded early-voting participation in both the 2024 general election and the 2022 general election, the last time the governorship was on the ballot.
In 2024, early voting drew 6,832 participants. This year's total represents an increase of 5,410 voters, or approximately 79.2 percent.
Compared with 2022, when 11,849 residents voted early, the 2026 total increased by 393 voters, or approximately 3.3 percent.
The stronger participation provides an indication of voter engagement ahead of Tuesday's election but does not establish which candidates are leading or predict the final outcome. The early-voting count reflects participation only, not candidate preferences, and overall turnout will not be known until Election Day and other eligible ballots are accounted for.
Residents who have already voted early do not need to return to the polls Tuesday.
What voters will decide
Tuesday's ballot includes the governor and lieutenant governor, delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Board of Education and the Board of Elections.
Voters will select a maximum of one joint governor and lieutenant governor ticket, one delegate candidate, one senator-at-large candidate and seven district senators.
The permitted number of selections for the Boards of Education and Elections varies according to the office and island.
The Elections System has published official sample ballots for St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John.
Governor and lieutenant governor
Five joint tickets are competing to lead the Virgin Islands government for the next four years.
The candidates, in their official ballot order, are:
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Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg and Positive Nelson — Independent
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Warren Mosler and Colin Robertson — Independent
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Stacey E. Plaskett and Milton E. Potter — Democratic
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Oakland Benta and Merwin Potter — Independent
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Gustav James and Randolph Bennett — Independent
Voters may select no more than one ticket.
The election will determine the successor to Governor Albert Bryan Jr., who is completing his second consecutive term and is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term.
Under the Revised Organic Act, the winning governor and lieutenant governor ticket must receive a majority of the votes cast for that office.
If no ticket receives a majority, a runoff between the two leading tickets will be required. The Elections System has scheduled November 17 as the potential runoff date.
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives
Two candidates are seeking to succeed Stacey Plaskett as the territory's delegate to Congress:
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Janelle K. Sarauw — Democratic
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Shelley A. H. Moorhead — Independent
Voters may select no more than one candidate.
The delegate represents the Virgin Islands in the U.S. House of Representatives and may participate in committee proceedings and other congressional activities, although the position does not carry a final floor vote on legislation.
A candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast for the office. Federal law provides for a runoff if neither candidate receives that majority.
Legislature of the Virgin Islands
All 15 seats in the Legislature are on the ballot.
Seven senators are elected from the St. Croix District, seven from the St. Thomas-St. John District, and one senator-at-large is elected territory-wide.
Senator-at-large
Two candidates are competing for the single territory-wide seat:
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Angel Bolques Jr. — Democratic
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Hadiya Sewer — Independent
Voters may select no more than one candidate.
St. Croix legislative candidates
Twenty-four candidates are competing for the seven St. Croix seats. In ballot order, they are:
Nemmy Williams-Jackson; Clifford A. Joseph; Bianca Francis; Elizabeth Hansen-Watley; Tyler Courtland Fay; Luz "Lucy" Browne; Jose "Besse" Gonzalez; Troy C. Williams Sr.; Kenneth "Kenny" Gittens; Julian S. Viera; Mustasem "Moe" Mustafa; Kurt Vialet; Nellie Rivera O'Reilly; Samuel Carrion; Alvin Milligan; Troy D. Mason; Diane Prosper; Raymond T. James; Norman "Bapo" JnBaptiste; Hubert L. Frederick; Gage Edmunds; Lisa J. Charles; Franklin D. Johnson; and Jay Watson.
Voters may select no more than seven candidates.
St. Thomas-St. John legislative candidates
Twenty candidates are competing for the seven seats in the St. Thomas-St. John District.
In ballot order, they are:
Gregory P. Smith; Dwayne M. DeGraff; Krishna Kilaru; Eric Tillett; Avery L. Lewis; Vernon Araujo; Joel S. Browne Connors; Ray "PuPa" Fonseca; Sennai Habtes; Rudel A. Hodge Jr.; Imani Daniel; Shenelle Fina Francis; Alma Francis Heyliger; Derrick A. Callwood; Paula A. Duke; Eugene D. Farrell; Carla Joseph; Collister M. Fahie; David Sierra; and Marvin A. Blyden.
Voters may select no more than seven candidates.
Board of Education
The Board of Education contests are separated by election district.
St. Croix District
Voters may select no more than two candidates from the following:
Vincent H.A. Gordon Jr.; Lucy M. Jackson; Winona A. Hendricks; and Terrence T. Joseph.
St. Thomas-St. John District
Voters may select no more than two candidates from the following:
Arah C. Lockhart; Bruce C. Flamon; and Judy M. Gomez.
Board of Elections
Voters will also select members of the Board of Elections, which has responsibility for election administration and oversight.
St. Croix
Five candidates are competing for three positions:
Juliet L. Liburd; Franz A. Christian Jr.; Kareem T. Francis; Mary "Peggy" Moorhead; and Shamari I. Haynes.
Voters may select no more than three.
St. Thomas
Three candidates are competing for two positions:
Barbara A. Petersen; Kevin A. Rodriquez; and Harriet A. Mercer.
Voters may select no more than two.
St. John
Two candidates are competing for one position:
Preston R. Evans and Raven Phillips.
Voters may select no more than one.
The St. Thomas-St. John sample ballot displays separate Board of Elections contests for St. Thomas and St. John. Voters should follow the instructions for the applicable contest on their issued ballot.
How to confirm voter registration
The deadline to register for Tuesday's general election was October 4 and has passed. The deadline for online voter registration was October 2.
Residents who registered before the deadline and want to confirm their status may use the Elections System's online Voter Lookup service.
The online tool requires the voter's first and last name, year of birth and ZIP code.
If the information cannot be located, voters should contact the Elections System before arriving at the polls or request assistance from an election officer.
A missing online record does not necessarily establish that a person is ineligible to vote. Registration information may be affected by an incorrect entry, an address change, a name change or a pending application.
What identification should voters bring?
Voters should bring identification to present when checking in at their chosen voting center.
The Elections System's voter-rights guidance states that individuals must announce their name and address and present identification to an election officer, who will compare the information against the district register or poll list.
A person who does not have proper identification may be required to complete an affidavit affirming that they are the voter listed in the register before being permitted to cast a ballot.
Anyone whose identity or residency is challenged may also be required to take an oath under the applicable election procedures.
What if a voter's name is missing from the registration list?
A person who believes they are properly registered but whose eligibility cannot be immediately established may request a provisional ballot.
According to the Elections System, provisional voters must present proof of identity and address and complete an affidavit affirming their eligibility.
The ballot is placed in designated envelopes for subsequent review rather than being counted immediately with regular ballots.
Election officers must also provide written information explaining how the voter can determine whether the provisional ballot was counted and, if not, the reason for its rejection.
Residents encountering registration problems should request assistance rather than leave without asking about the provisional-ballot process.
How to mark the ballot correctly
The Elections System's official sample ballots instruct voters to examine both sides of the ballot before submitting it.
Voters should completely fill in the oval next to each candidate they wish to select.
The instructions also caution against making unnecessary marks on the ballot.
Anyone wishing to vote for a write-in candidate must write the person's name on the designated line and completely fill in the corresponding oval. Merely writing the name without marking the oval does not complete the write-in selection.
If a voter makes a mistake or places a stray mark on the ballot, the Elections System advises requesting a replacement from a poll worker instead of trying to correct the original ballot.
Voters should pay particular attention to the maximum number of candidates permitted in each contest. Selecting more candidates than authorized can prevent votes in the affected contest from being counted.
Absentee voting remains available under limited deadlines
The deadline to request an absentee ballot that must be mailed off-island was October 20 and has passed.
However, according to the Elections System's official election notice, eligible voters may request an emailed absentee ballot or pick up an in-person absentee ballot through 5 p.m. Tuesday, November 3.
Applications are available at Elections System offices and through the online absentee-ballot portal.
Residents considering this option should immediately contact the Elections System to confirm eligibility, application requirements and the procedures for returning their completed ballots.
The November 3 deadline for requesting an emailed or in-person absentee ballot should not be confused with the deadline and instructions governing the return of a completed ballot.
Assistance for elderly voters and voters with disabilities
Voters who require assistance may request help from election officers.
According to the Elections System, a blind or physically disabled voter may bring one person of their choosing into the voting booth to assist with casting a ballot.
A voter who requests assistance after entering the booth may also be helped by two election officers, who must provide assistance without influencing the person's selections.
Voters experiencing difficulty with the voting equipment or who require accessibility accommodations should notify an election officer.
Campaigning is restricted near polling locations
Candidates, campaign workers and supporters must observe restrictions on electioneering at and around voting centers.
The Elections System prohibits campaigning within polling places and within designated 200-foot restricted areas.
The restrictions cover efforts to influence voters, including distributing campaign literature, displaying political signs and soliciting votes within prohibited areas.
Intimidation, obstruction and interference with the voting process are also prohibited.
Candidates and their supporters should observe posted boundaries and instructions from election officials.
When will election results be available?
The Elections System has announced that vote tabulation will begin after polling centers close at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Under Title 18, Section 94a of the Virgin Islands Code, early-voting results cannot be released before Election Day polls close.
Officials will begin tabulating the early-voting machines and release those results territory-wide once that process is completed.
Election Day results will also be processed as voting-center officials return their election materials to the appropriate Elections System offices.
The agency expects to publish several categories of reports, including territory-wide results, early-voting district reports, Election Day district reports and precinct reports by island.
The public may follow the results through the Elections System's official 2026 general election page.
The website also offers a free subscription service for residents who wish to receive election updates.
Initial results released Tuesday night will be unofficial until the required canvass and certification procedures are completed.
The amended 2026 election calendar schedules certification of general election results for Friday, November 13.
If a runoff is necessary in a contest requiring a majority, the calendar provides for early runoff voting on November 14 and 15, followed by the runoff election on Tuesday, November 17.
Elections System contact information
Residents with questions about their registration, voting locations, absentee ballots or other election procedures may contact the Elections System at the following numbers:
St. Croix: 340-773-1021
St. Thomas: 340-774-3107
St. John: 340-776-6535
Official election information, sample ballots, voting-center notices and updates are available at www.vivote.gov.
