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Washington: Voter Guide
Voting Information // Washington
Registration:
8/8

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

Accessibility:
5/8

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

Requirements:
3/5

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

There are no upcoming elections. Sign up for email or text notifications prior to important election dates.

Voting Qualifications

Not under Department of Corrections supervision for a Washington felony conviction
Not disqualified from voting due to a court order
A legal resident of Washington State for at least 30 days prior to Election Day
United States Citizen
18+ Years of Age

Deadlines

In Person - 
By Election Day
Mail - 
8 days before Election Day
Online - 
8 days before Election Day
Mail - 
All eligible voters are sent a ballot at least 18 days before election
Mail - 
Postmarked by Election Day
In Person - 
Between 1 and 18 days before Election Day

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.