Doswell, Virginia Public Records

Law enforcement in Doswell is primarily provided by the Hanover County Sheriff's Office, which operates in conjunction with the smaller Doswell Police Department. For individuals seeking information regarding criminal records, arrest logs, or mugshots, the first step is to contact the Doswell Police Department's records unit. This unit can provide information on recent arrests and incidents within the town. For more comprehensive countywide criminal data, the Hanover County Sheriff's Office is the next point of contact.

Doswell residents vote through the Hanover County Office of Voter Registration and Elections, located at 7522 County Complex Road, Hanover, VA 23069 (phone: 804-365-6080, website: https://www.hanovercounty.gov/254/Voter-Registration-Elections). This office administers all aspects of voter registration, election operations, absentee voting, and precinct management for county residents. Virginia voters can register online through the Department of Elections at vote.virginia.gov, with registration deadlines of 22 days before any election. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, Virginia residents, at least 18 years old by the election date, and not currently declared mentally incapacitated or convicted of a felony (unless rights have been restored). Virginia does not require voter ID registration, but voters must present acceptable photo identification when voting in person, including driver's licenses, passports, employer IDs, or student IDs from Virginia schools. Doswell is an unincorporated community and therefore does not hold independent municipal elections for mayor or town council. Residents participate in Hanover County, Virginia state, and federal elections. County offices including Board of Supervisors seats, Sheriff, Commissioner of Revenue, Treasurer, Commonwealth's Attorney, and Clerk of Circuit Court are elected countywide. Doswell residents vote in Hanover County Board of Supervisors District 1 (Chickahominy District), with the supervisor position elected to four-year terms. To find their assigned polling place, Doswell voters can use the Virginia Department of Elections polling place locator at vote.elections.virginia.gov or contact the county elections office. Most Doswell residents vote at precincts in or near the community, which have historically included South Anna District Volunteer Fire Department and other nearby locations. Virginia provides extensive public access to election records: voter registration lists (with certain personal information redacted) are available for purchase for lawful purposes, campaign finance reports are searchable online through the Virginia Department of Elections and Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP), candidate filings and statements of qualification are public records, and precinct-level election results are published by the State Board of Elections at results.elections.virginia.gov. In the November 2024 presidential election, Hanover County reported approximately 68,500 registered voters with turnout exceeding 75%, reflecting the county's high civic engagement. The county favored Republican candidates with approximately 62% support in recent presidential elections, though results vary by precinct and race. On November 3, 2026, Doswell and Hanover County voters will participate in federal midterm elections that will include Virginia's U.S. Senate race (Senator Tim Kaine's seat is up for election in 2024, and Mark Warner's seat will be contested in 2026), Virginia's U.S. House of Representatives race for the 7th Congressional District (which includes Doswell), and all 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates, which are elected to two-year terms. State Senate seats (40 districts statewide) are elected to four-year terms, with all seats last contested in 2023, so no state senate races will appear on the 2026 ballot. Hanover County offices on the 2026 ballot may include the Sheriff (four-year term), Commonwealth's Attorney (four-year term), and other constitutional officers depending on term schedules. Virginia does not hold gubernatorial elections in 2026 (the next Governor's race is in 2025 for a term beginning in 2026). Absentee voting in Virginia is available to all registered voters without requiring an excuse since the 2020 law changes. Voters can request absentee ballots online through the Virginia Department of Elections portal, by mail, or in person at the Hanover County elections office. Early in-person voting begins 45 days before Election Day at the elections office and potentially other designated satellite locations, running through the Saturday before Election Day. Absentee ballots must be returned by 7:00 PM on Election Day either by mail (postmarked by Election Day and received by noon the Friday after), in person at the elections office, or at designated drop boxes.