Washington

Land Acknowledgement

Washington is the home of the Chinook Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Duwamish Tribe, Hoh Indian Tribe, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Kalispel Tribe of Indians, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Lummi Nation, Makah Tribe, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Port Gamble, S'Klallam Tribe, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Quileute Tribe, Quinault Indian Nation, Samish Indian Nation, Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, Shoalwater Bay Tribe, Skokomish Indian Tribe, Snohomish Tribe of Indians, Snoqualmie Tribe, Snoqualmoo Nation, Spokane Tribe of Indians, Squaxin Island Tribe, Steilacoom Tribe, Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, Suquamish Tribe, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Tulalip Tribes, and the Upper Skagit Tribe, and it is the traditional homeland of many tribes.

Overview

In Washington you can register to vote online, in person, or by mail. If you register by mail, your registration must be received by October 31. However, you may also register in person any time before 8PM on Election Day. You do not need to provide any identification to vote, just make sure to sign your ballot envelope before your return it.

Key Dates

October 21 – Mail-in ballots sent to all registered voters and voting centers open.
October 31 – Mail-in voter registrations must be received by your County Elections office. Voters can continue to register in person.
November 8 – Election Day!

Contacts

Washington Voting Guide

Note: The information below is not legal advice on how to vote. Because voting information is changing rapidly during this election, make sure you check the links provided and check with your state about deadlines and voting specifics.

Registering to Vote

  • If you mail in your registration, it must be received by October 31. However, you can continue to register to vote in person any time before 8PM on Election Day. You may have to pick up your ballot from the County Elections office if you register after October 31.

  • No.

  • You will be asked to provide either your Washington driver's license, permit, or ID, OR, if you do not have a Washington ID, you may provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

  • You must provide a residential address located in the State of Washington. If you do not have a traditional residential address, you may describe the location of your residence instead. If you provide a nontraditional address, you must provide a mailing address. Your mailing address may be located anywhere, and may be a P.O. Box. A federally recognized tribe may designate one or more tribal government buildings to serve as a residential address or mailing address for voters living on a reservation or lands. In this case, the voter must reside within the same voter precinct as the designated address.

  • Contact your County Elections Department.

  • You can get a Washington ID card or driver's license from the Washington Department of Licensing.

  • Yes, if you have a Washington driver's license, permit, or ID, you may register online.

  • No.

  • Yes. You may register to vote in person at your County Elections Department.

  • Yes. You may print and mail your voter registration to the County Elections Department. Find the voter registration form and County Election office information here. You may also request that a voter registration be mailed to you by filling out this form.

  • Yes. If you were convicted of a felony in Washington State, another state, or in federal court, your right to vote will be restored automatically as long as you are not currently serving a Department of Corrections sentence of total confinement in prison.

  • Contact your County Elections Department.

  • If you mail in your registration, it must be received by October 31. Voters can register in person up until 8PM on Election Day.

  • Yes, under federal law you can assist someone in registering to vote if they do not speak English well, if they have trouble reading or writing, or if they have a disability.

Checking & Updating Voter Registration

  • Check your voter registration here.

  • Contact your County Elections Department.

  • If you have a Washington driver's license or State ID, you can update your voter registration online. If you do not have a Washington driver's license or ID, you may print out a new voter registration form and send it to your County Election office. Find the voter registration form and County Election office information here. You can also update your registration in person by visiting your County Election office.

  • Maybe. If an election related piece of mail sent to you is returned by the post office as undeliverable, your registration may be placed on "inactive" status. If your registration remains inactive through two consecutive federal elections, your registration will be cancelled. Check your status here.

Voting by Mail/Absentee/Ballot Drop-Off

  • You do not need to request an absentee ballot in Washington. Mail-in ballots will be sent to all registered voters starting October 21.

  • Yes. Please check that you have filled out all required fields and signed your ballot. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot a week before the deadline to ensure your ballot is received on time. However, please factor in your personal experience with mail delivery times to and from your place of residence or where you drop off your ballot.

  • Ballots are automatically mailed to all registered voters starting on October 21. If you have not received your ballot, contact your County Elections office.

  • No.

  • Yes.

  • There is no deadline to request a mail-in ballot. All registered voters will be sent a mail-in ballot. However, if you register to vote in person after October 31, you may have to pick up your ballot from the County Elections office.

  • Ballots will automatically be mailed to registered voters starting October 21.

  • Your ballot will be sent to the mailing address provided on your voter registration. If you need to change where your ballot is sent, contact your County Elections Department.

  • No.

  • All ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, November 8.

  • Yes. You may return your ballot to an official drop box up until 8PM on Election Day.

  • Yes.

  • Yes. However, your ballot is only pre-paid for USPS. If you choose to use FedEx or UPS, you will have to provide postage.

  • No.

  • Yes. Your ballot may be thrown out if you do not sign the declaration, if your signature does not match the one on file, if you return two voted ballots, if your vote is unclear or you overvoted, or if your ballot was created for a prior election. You will be notified by mail if your ballot was rejected due to missing or mismatching signatures. If you receive a notice, you must sign and return a curing statement before November 29 to ensure your ballot is counted.

  • Yes. You may track your ballot here.

  • Contact your County Elections Department

Voting In-Person

  • Washington conducts elections by mail, but you can vote in person at your county voting center. Find the location of voting centers and ballot drop boxes here:

  • No.

  • Yes. Ballots will be mailed out beginning October 21. Once you receive and complete your ballot, you may return it by mail or to a drop box location any time before November 8.

  • You do not need an ID to vote, but you must sign your ballot. If you cannot provide a signature when you vote in person, you can provide a valid photo ID instead. This may include a Washington driver’s license or ID card, student ID, tribal ID (does not need to include an address or expiration date), or employer ID card.

  • You can get a Washington ID card or driver's license from the Washington Department of Licensing.

  • Yes. Washington provides provisional ballots to people seeking to vote who might otherwise be denied the opportunity to vote a regular ballot. Provisional ballots are researched to confirm the voter’s registration before the ballot is counted.

  • Yes. Under federal law (Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act), you are entitled to bring anyone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or neighbor, to the polling place AND into the polling booth to assist with voting. However, that person may not be your employer, running in the election, or a representative of your labor union. The person giving assistance also may not tell the voter how to vote.

  • Contact your County Elections Department