How to vote in Washington
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): 8 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Received by 8 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): N/A
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 8 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 8 days before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
Washington voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 8 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Received by 8 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Washington registration using the Washington voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Washington you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be 18 years old by Election Day
- be a legal resident of Washington State, your county, and precinct for 30 days immediately preceding Election Day
- not be incarcerated or on community supervision for a felony.
You can register online if you have a Washington driver’s license, permit, or non-driver ID card. If you do not have one of these, you may use the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.
- Visit the Washington online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 8 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: You must provide your Washington driver’s license or state ID card number. If you do not have a Washington driver’s license, or state ID card, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Failure to provide this information may prevent your registration from being processed.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You are not required to designate your party affiliation to register in Washington.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be received by 8 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
Bring your Washington driver's license or non-driver ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or the federal government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, rent agreement, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Summary: Washington has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Go to your local election office or county voting center. Click here to look up the address.
- What to bring:
Bring your Washington driver's license or non-driver ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or the federal government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, rent agreement, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Voting rights are immediately restored when you are released from prison.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You can vote while on parole.
- You can vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- No financial obligations.
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Washington absentee and mail ballot guide
All Washington elections are held by mail. This means that Washington will automatically send a mail-in ballot to every registered voter ahead of all elections.
- If you need to update your mailing address permanently, register to vote again using your new mailing address.
- If you need to update your mailing address temporarily -- because you will be out of town for a specific election -- request a one-time absentee ballot.
- Earliest day to apply: Anytime
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 8 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 8 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
- All Washington elections are vote-by-mail. This means that Washington will automatically send a mail-in ballot to every registered voter ahead of all elections.
- If you need to update your mailing address temporarily for a specific election, request a one-time absentee ballot.
Washington does not allow you to request your ballot online.
- Download the Washington absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 8 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 8 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
- All Washington elections are held by mail. This means that Washington will automatically send a mail-in ballot to every registered voter ahead of all elections.
- Voters who are away from their Washington residence during the election may contact their local county elections office to have their ballot mailed to an alternate mailing address.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Track your ballot here: Washington absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 20th day after Election Day in order for your vote to be counted.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
All elections are conducted by mail. There is no specific emergency ballot provision, but a replacement ballot can be requested by phone, mail, in person or electronically. Replacement ballots can be requested and printed through VoteWA.gov.
Dates & Deadlines
Washington does not offer emergency ballots.
Contact your local election office
Washington early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 18 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
You must show a current photo ID or sign a ballot declaration when you vote.
If your signature doesn’t match your voter records, you may be asked to show a photo ID.
Acceptable photo IDs include:
- Washington state driver's license, permit, or non-driver ID card issued by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL)
- US passport or passport card
- Tribal ID
Washington voter ID guide
You must show a current photo ID or sign a ballot declaration when you vote.
If your signature doesn’t match your voter records, you may be asked to show a photo ID.
Acceptable photo IDs include:
- Washington state driver's license, permit, or non-driver ID card issued by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL)
- US passport or passport card
- Tribal ID
- All Washington elections are held by mail. This means that Washington will automatically send a mail-in ballot to every registered voter ahead of all elections.
- Voters who are away from their Washington residence during the election may contact their local county elections office to have their ballot mailed to an alternate mailing address.
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
You can register online if you have a Washington driver’s license, permit, or non-driver ID card. If you do not have one of these, you may use the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.
Bring your Washington driver's license or non-driver ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or the federal government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, rent agreement, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Washington elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of State Elections Division P.O. Box 40229 Olympia, WA 98504‐0229