Automatic voter registration
Online voter registration
Pre-registration before turning 18
Number of days prior to election a voter must be registered is 15 days or less
Online voter registration closes 15 days or less before Election Day
Registration drives
Same day registration offered in all elections
Same day registration located at polling place
Same day registration offered only during early voting
All mail voting
In-person early voting
Amount of early voting days is higher than 7
Election day is a state holiday
No-excuse mail voting
12+ hours of open polls
Paid time off work to vote
Time off work to vote
Felons can vote after incarceration with completion of sentence
Felons can vote immediately after incarceration
Felons can vote while incarcerated
No ID required to vote
Mental competency not required to register
Non-photo ID required to vote
Photo-ID required to vote
Upcoming Elections
Voting Qualifications
Deadlines
More Information
In Washington, each candidate is authorized to list a party “preference.” The top two vote getters in each race, regardless of party, advance to the general election.
All Washington elections are held by mail. You may apply for an absentee ballot if you need your ballot mailed someplace other than your usual mailing address.
Photo ID required
All Washington counties now vote by mail. However, county auditors must open at least one vote center where voters can cast their ballot in person. Voters who wish to vote in person are the only voters subject to ID requirements. Be sure to bring one of the following photo IDs:
- A Washington driver’s license or state ID card
- A student ID card
- A tribal ID card
- Employer ID card
If you don’t have a photo ID and want to vote in person, you’ll have to vote a provisional ballot. Your ballot will count if the signature on your ballot declaration matches the signature on your voter registration record.
