Fairfield, Virginia Public Records

The Fairfield Police Department is responsible for maintaining public safety within the city limits. Residents can contact the department's records unit to request arrest records, mugshots, and booking information for incidents that occurred within Fairfield. For broader law enforcement matters covering the entire Rockbridge County region, the Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office, also based in Lexington, oversees the county jail and detention facility, as well as general investigative and patrol services.

Fairfield residents vote through the Rockbridge County Office of the General Registrar and Director of Elections, located at 150 South Main Street, Suite A, Lexington, VA 24450. The elections office can be reached at (540) 463-4361, and election information is available at rockbridgecountyva.gov/voter-registration-elections. This office administers all federal, state, and local elections for county residents, maintains voter registration rolls, processes absentee ballot applications, and coordinates polling locations throughout the county. Fairfield voters can register to vote online at the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal (https://vote.elections.virginia.gov), in person at the Registrar's office, by mail, or at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles when conducting driver's license transactions. The registration deadline is 22 days before any election. Virginia requires no identification to register, but voters must provide a social security number or Virginia DMV number, and first-time registrants who register by mail may need to show ID when voting.

As an unincorporated community, Fairfield has no municipal elections for mayor or town council. Fairfield residents vote in Rockbridge County, Virginia state, and federal elections. County offices on the ballot include the Board of Supervisors (governing body), Sheriff, Commissioner of Revenue, Commonwealth's Attorney, Treasurer, Clerk of Circuit Court, and School Board members. These positions are typically elected to four-year terms in November of odd-numbered years under Virginia's election calendar. Fairfield residents can locate their assigned polling place by using the Virginia Department of Elections polling place lookup tool at vote.elections.virginia.gov or by contacting the Rockbridge County Registrar. Polling places are assigned based on precinct, and voters receive notification cards with their polling location before each election.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Rockbridge County reported approximately 60% voter turnout, with about 10,500 ballots cast out of roughly 17,500 registered voters. The county has historically leaned Republican in presidential and statewide races but shows competitive voting in local contests. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Fairfield and Rockbridge County voters will decide several key races. Virginia does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026 (Virginia's Senate seats are next contested in 2025 and 2026 special circumstances permitting), but Virginia's gubernatorial election is not until 2025. However, all 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates will be on the ballot in 2025, not 2026. In 2026, voters will likely focus on federal congressional races (U.S. House of Representatives for Virginia's 6th Congressional District, which includes Rockbridge County), and any county-level constitutional officer positions up for election on the regular cycle. Rockbridge County School Board positions and Board of Supervisors seats may also appear on ballots depending on term expirations.

Virginia election records that are public include voter registration lists (available for purchase by qualified requesters under Virginia Code § 24.2-405), campaign finance reports filed with the Virginia Department of Elections (searchable at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/candidatepac-info/), candidate filings and petitions, and certified election results by precinct (available from the State Board of Elections and the county registrar). Virginia offers no-excuse absentee voting; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Applications can be submitted online at vote.elections.virginia.gov, by mail, fax, email, or in person at the Registrar's office. The deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot is 11 days before the election (5 p.m. on the Friday before). Fairfield voters may also vote absentee in person at the Rockbridge County Registrar's office beginning 45 days before any election through the Saturday before Election Day. Absentee ballots must be returned by mail (postmarked by Election Day and received by noon the third day after) or delivered in person to the Registrar's office or an official drop box by 7 p.m. on Election Day.