In Virginia, it doesn’t matter if you have been ISSUED an absentee ballot or not. Your ballot is TRACKED to YOU if you return it.
They are barcoded.
You can go on to the VA Department of Elections and track your ballot from the time it was requested to the time it was received back after you mail it back to the registrar.
If you get the ballot, and for some reason decide NOT to vote by mail, you can vote in person.
Absentee REQUESTS and BALLOTS are two different things.
I understand all that very well. I’ve requested a ballot and done the follow through. But see post number 19 here.