VOTER REGISTRATION

Registration Deadline: To register by mail or online, your application must be received no later than 8 days before Election Day. Register to vote in person during business hours and any time before 8:00 PM on Election Day.

Party Affiliation: Washington does not have party registration as part of voter registration. Voters do not have to declare a party affiliation either when they register or vote. 

VOTER REGISTRATION QUALIFICATIONS

Age: Must be at least 18 years old (16 and 17-year-olds may sign up as a Future Voter and be automatically registered to vote when they turn 18).

Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen.

Residency: Must be a legal resident of Washington State at least 30 days before Election Day.

Mental Competency: Click here to find more information on mental competency voting requirements.

Felony Convictions: If you were convicted of a felony in a Washington State court, another state, or in federal court, your right to vote is restored automatically once you are no longer serving a Department of Corrections sentence of total confinement in prison. For more information on felons and voting rights, click here

Once your right to vote is restored, you must re-register in order to receive a ballot. You can re-register online with VoteWA, by mail, or in person.

OBTAINING A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM

Online: Click on this link.

In person: Visit your County Elections department to obtain and complete a voter registration form in person.

By mail/in writing: Request a voter registration form be sent to your residential address or download a voter registration form and mail it to your county elections office.

VERIFYING YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS

Online: Washington Voter Registration Verification

Phone: Contact your local election officials.

MILITARY & OVERSEAS VOTING

Military and overseas voters are exempt from the regular voter registration deadlines. The last day to register and request a ballot is Election Day. Even if you are not registered, you may still vote and send in a ballot because your signature on the declaration attests to your eligibility and constitutes registration.

You may register normally. When registering, please indicate you are in the armed forces or living overseas. You must list a Washington residential address. This can be your last address in the state, or that of a family member. Your mailing address can be anywhere in the world.

You may receive your ballot by mail, email or fax. You may also qualify to receive a ballot as early as 90 days before the election. ​​If you believe you won't receive your regular ballot in time to vote, you can also request a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, which is a blank write-in ballot. Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots are available at consulates, embassies, from your Voting Assistance Officers, and online.

More information on military and overseas voting can be found here.

VOTING BY MAIL

Washington state voters vote by mail. All registered voters are automatically mailed a ballot at least 18 days before every election. There is no need to sign-up or request a mail-in ballot. If you are unsure if you are registered or if your address is current, you can confirm your registration information here. Your packet will include a ballot, a secrecy envelope or secrecy sleeve for your voted ballot, and a return envelope with prepaid postage. Follow the instructions that accompany your ballot. 

If you will not be able to access your mail during the 18-day voting period, need to receive your ballot at a different address, or need to access your ballot electronically, contact your County Elections Office. If it is within 90 days prior to a state Primary or General Election and you believe that you will be unable to access, vote, and return a regularly-issued ballot within the time provided by law, contact your County Elections Office.

Your ballot must be postmarked no later than Election Day or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

If you fail to sign the ballot declaration, or the signature on the ballot declaration does not match the signature in your voter registration record, your county elections department will contact you. If you are unable to sign the declaration, make a mark in front of two witnesses and have them sign in the designated spaces.

Click here for more information and answers to frequently asked questions about voting by mail. 

VOTING IN PERSON

Each county opens a voting center prior to each primary, special election, and general election. Each voting center is open during business hours during the voting period, which begins eighteen days before, and ends at 8:00 p.m. on the day of the primary, special election, or general election.

You can locate your nearest voting center by logging into MyVote.wa.gov or contacting your county's elections department.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

College Student Voters: Click here

Voters with Disabilities: Click here

Deciding how to vote: https://votesmart.org/

Polling Place: Places to return my ballot

Problems with voting: Voter Concern Form

Verifying Vote By Mail status: Click here