How to Register, Vote and Track Your Ballot in Washington

En español | Washington is a vote-by-mail state. If you’re a registered voter, you’ll automatically get a ballot in the mail before each election, but voting early in person is also an option.

The 2022 midterms decided races for the U.S. House and Senate, the state House and Senate and several statewide offices. Washington will hold state appellate judge and local elections in 2023.

• Upcoming elections: Visit the secretary of state’s website for information about elections when it becomes available.

• Voting by mail: All registered voters are automatically sent a mail-in ballot for each election, so they can vote from home. 

• Early in-person voting: Washington offers this option starting 18 days before an election.

• Voting at the polls: Voters who are already registered do not need to show an ID to vote in person on Election Day.
  

A redistricting plan changed the boundaries of some state legislative and U.S. congressional districts and may affect which candidates appear on your ballot.

• Online: Use the state’s VoteWA portal. You’ll need a current Washington state driver's license, permit or ID card. If you don’t have one of these, you may still register by mail or in person.

• By mail: Print a voter registration form or submit an online request for one to be mailed to you. You can also pick up this form at many state and public agencies, including the Department of Health, the Aging & Long-Term Support Administration and the Developmental Disabilities Administration. Once you complete the form, mail it to your county’s election department. 

• In person: Visit your county’s election department during normal business hours or anytime before 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can also register in person at the Department of Licensing or during voter registration drives in your area.

Online and mail registrations must be received eight days before an election, but you can register in person until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Check or update your registration at VoteWA.

Not in Washington, unless it’s a presidential primary. For congressional and statewide races, Washington uses a top-two primary system, whereby all candidates are listed on the same ballot and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of their party.

County election offices mail ballots to all registered voters no later than 18 days before an election (or up to 45 days before an election for military and overseas voters). Contact your county’s elections department if you don’t receive one.

RyanJLane/Getty Images

If you’ll be away during the election period, or if you’ve moved, contact your county’s elections department to update your mailing address.

• By mail: Your ballot must be postmarked by Election Day. If mailing your ballot within a week of an election, be mindful of mailbox collection times — a late postmark could disqualify your ballot.

• Via drop box: Your ballot must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Log in to VoteWA for a map of drop boxes and voting centers in your area.

If your original ballot is destroyed, damaged, lost or not received, request a new one online by logging in to VoteWA or contacting your county’s election department. Replacement ballots may be sent via mail or electronically, picked up at your county’s election office or printed from an online application. If you request a new ballot, it will supersede any previously issued ballot.

Yes. Log in to the VoteWA site and select Ballot Status. Allow up to five business days for your ballot to be posted as received.

Yes, at voting centers in each county during regular business hours, which may vary. In-person voting begins 18 days before an election. Contact your county’s elections department for details or locate your nearest voting center by logging in to VoteWA.

Log in to VoteWA for a map of drop boxes and voting centers in your area. Check with your county’s election department to confirm voting hours. 

Not if you are already registered. To verify your identity, election officials will compare the signature on your ballot declaration against the signature collected when you registered to vote.

If you are registering to vote on Election Day, you will need to provide a current Washington state driver's license, permit or ID card, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.


Editor’s note: This guide was updated on Nov. 30, 2022, with information about how to vote in Washington.

• Follow AARP’s political coverage at aarp.org/elections
• Keep up with local events and AARP advocacy efforts at states.aarp.org/washington