Photo: unsplash
Prince William County residents curious about what happens behind the scenes on Election Day will get a firsthand look next weekend. The Prince William County Office of Elections will host its third annual Open House on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its main office, 9250 Lee Avenue in Manassas, giving the public a free, guided tour through the office that runs local elections.
The event launched in 2024 as a way to build public trust in how elections are administered, and it's since picked up national attention: the program received a 2026 People's Choice Award from The Election Center.
Visitors will be led on timed-entry tours through the Office of Elections, stopping along the way for staff presentations and hands-on demonstrations covering the major pieces of election administration — voter registration, mail ballot intake and processing, voting equipment security, and how results are tabulated and verified.
“I hope voters see all the different steps that go into this process and all the security measures in place to make sure elections are accurate and fair,” Director of Elections Eric Olsen said.
The idea is to take residents beyond what they see at the polls on Election Day and show them the people, processes and safeguards working behind it. Each tour takes roughly an hour. This year's Open House is being held on a Saturday for the first time.
The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Residents can reserve a spot online.
What to Know Before November
The Open House lands right as the county's election calendar for the November midterms starts to take shape. Here's what voters need to know:
• Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, with polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Early voting begins Friday, Sept. 18, at the Office of Elections (9250 Lee Ave., Manassas) and at the Woodbridge DMV (2731 Caton Hill Rd.). Hours are weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the main office open until 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.
• Voter registration updates are due by 11:59 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. Same-day registration is also available at early voting locations and at polling places on Election Day.
• Mail ballot requests are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. If returning a ballot by mail, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Nov. 3.
Full details on early voting locations, hours and mail voting can be found on the county's PWC Votes website.
Source: Prince William County Office of Elections.
Enjoyed this story?
Subscribe to the free Woodbridge Gazette newsletter for more local news and events or follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates throughout the week.