Voting in Washington

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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in Washington:

See Election administration in Washington for more additional information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, and post-election auditing practices.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Voter registration

Eligibility and registration details

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Washington, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the state, and at least 18 years of age.[1]

One may register to vote online, by mail, or in-person at a county elections department. Registration must be completed eight days in advance if done by mail or online. In-person registration is available through Election Day.[2][3]

In 2018, Washington lawmakers enacted legislation providing for same-day voter registration and automatic voter registration.[4]

In-person voting

Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing times

Washington is an all-mail voting state. Individuals who prefer to vote in person rather than by mail may do so at local voting centers, which are open for 18 days prior to the election. The voting period ends at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Contact your county elections department for more information on voting center locations and times.[5]

Voter identification

See also: Voter identification laws by state

Washington is an all-mail voting state and does not require voters to present photo identification (ID). Voters may choose to vote in person at a local voting center. According to state law RCW 29A.40.160, “The county auditor shall require any person desiring to vote at a voting center to either sign a ballot declaration or provide identification.” Accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state ID cards, and student ID cards. For a list of all accepted forms of ID, see below.[6]

The following list of accepted ID was current as of April 2023. Click here for the Washington State Legislature's voter ID regulations to ensure you have the most current information.

  • Driver's license
  • State identification card
  • Student identification card
  • Tribal identification card
  • Employer identification card

Mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting and All-mail voting

Washington conducts what are commonly referred to as all-mail elections. In Washington, voting is conducted primarily, although not necessarily exclusively, by mail. Election officials automatically distribute mail-in ballots to eligible electors.

Local election officials

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for convicted felons

In Washington, people convicted of a felony have their voting rights "automatically restored as long as the person is not serving a sentence of total confinement under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections."[7][8]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony can not vote while they are incarcerated but automatically regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[9]

Election agencies

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See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Washington can contact the following state and federal agencies.

Washington Secretary of State, Elections Division

P.O. Box 40229
Olympia, Washington 98504-0229
Telephone: 360-902-4180
Email: elections@sos.wa.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Noteworthy events

2018

On March 19, 2018, Governor Jay Inslee (D) signed into law HB 2595, a bill providing for automatic voter registration in Washington when eligible voters obtain driver's licenses or state identification cards. HB 2595 cleared the Washington House of Representatives on March 7, 2018, by a vote of 50 to 48. The bill cleared the Washington State Senate on March 6, 2018, by a vote of 27 to 21, with one member excused.[4]

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See also

Elections in Washington


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Voter Eligibility," accessed April 20, 2023
  2. ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Voters," accessed April 20, 2023
  3. ↑ Washington State Legislature, "Voter registration deadlines," accessed April 20, 2023
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Hill, "Wash. gov signs universal voter registration law," March 20, 2018
  5. ↑ Washington Secretary of State, “Frequently Asked Questions on Voting by Mail,” accessed April 20, 2023
  6. ↑ Washington State Legislature, "RCW 29A.40.160," accessed April 20, 2023
  7. ↑ Washington State Legislature, "RCW 29A.08.520," accessed December 12, 2019
  8. ↑ Washington State Legislature, "Felony Convictions and Voting Rights," accessed April 20, 2023
  9. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
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