Frequently Asked Questions on Voting by Mail

Washington votes by mail every election.

If yous are registered to vote in Washington, in that location is no need to asking a ballot. Ostend your registration at VoteWA.gov.

Voting past post is convenient and gives you fourth dimension to larn well-nigh the ballot measures and candidates earlier casting your vote. Return your ballot by official drop box or past postal service, no postage needed. Your ballot must be deposited or postmarked by Ballot Mean solar day. If mailed, the USPS recommends that you postal service a week before Ballot Mean solar day.

All counties behave vote-by-mail elections. All vote-by-mail ballots (too known every bit absentee) are kept in secure storage while not beingness processed. Processing includes the verification of signatures and postmarks, removing the inner envelope from the outer envelope and removing the ballot from the inner envelope. Ballots are secured with numbered seals and a log is kept of the seal numbers to find any inappropriate admission. Votes cast are tabulated subsequently 8 p.m. PST on Election Day. Results are neither known nor reported before 8 p.k.

Washington State Vote-By-Postal service Fact Sail

Path of a ballot, Vote-By-Mail in Washington State

COVID-19 update: Voting by mail service is safe and does not present a risk of spreading the virus. For in-person services, each county may accept restrictions. Y'all should contact your county elections office to determine what arrangements can be made for in person voting.

When are ballots mailed?

Your ballot is mailed at to the lowest degree xviii days before each election. Your packet will include a election, a secrecy envelope or secrecy sleeve for your voted ballot, and a return envelope with pre-paid postage. If you are a registered voter and practise not receive your ballot, contact your county elections section.

How can I learn more about the measures and/or candidates that appear on my election?

Washington has many ways to assistance voters become informed:

  • The state General Election Voters' Pamphlet is mailed to every household in Washington.
  • For a personalized voters' guide, sign in to VoteWA.gov. For best results, use a mobile device or Chrome as your browser.
  • Accessible versions, including PDFs, sound files, and a text only format, are available online. Call (800) 448-4881 or email [email protected] if yous are unable to easily locate the accessible version.

Other sources of data nearly candidates and bug include local newspapers, goggle box, libraries, political parties, and campaigns.

When is the latest I tin plow in my completed ballot?

Your ballot must either be postmarked no afterward than Election Day or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Ballot Twenty-four hour period. If mailing your election inside a week of Election Day, exist mindful of mailbox collection times or use an official ballot driblet box. A late postmark could disqualify your ballot.

Did you sign the render envelope?Your county elections department reviews your signature and compares information technology to your voter registration records. They will contact you lot if there's a problem with your signature. If you lot are unable to sign the declaration, brand a marking in front of two witnesses and accept them sign in the designated spaces.

To check the condition of your voted ballot, sign in to VoteWA.gov and click "Election Condition." Please allow 3-v business days for your ballot to exist posted as received.

Can I vote in-person?

Each county opens an accessible voting heart prior to each main, special ballot, and general election. Each voting middle is open during business concern hours during the voting period, which begins eighteen days before, and ends at 8:00 p.m. on the day of, the primary, special election, or general election. You lot can locate your nearest voting centre past logging into VoteWA.gov or contacting your county's elections department.

COVID-19 update: Voting past mail is safe and does not present a adventure of spreading the virus. For in-person services, each county may have restrictions. You should contact your county elections office to determine what arrangements can be made for in person voting.

If I'k on vacation or accept moved, will my election be forwarded?

Some counties may allow ballots to be forwarded. All the same, the best thing to do is contact your county elections section and inquire for a temporary modify in your mailing accost. Yous should also contact the canton elections department when you return to the address where you lot are registered to vote, or if you have permanently moved.

What is a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot?

Military personnel and U.S. citizens overseas may use a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot available through Voting Aid Offices at military installations or at U.Due south. Embassies and Consulates. Washington State law allows all eligible election contests to exist voted on this ballot.

How do I obtain a replacement ballot?

Merely enquire! Contact your local county elections section when you have destroyed, spoiled, lost, or non received the original ballot. Remember, your canton may only accept 1 election and will verify your signature. Alternatively, you can obtain a replacement ballot delivered online by logging into VoteWA.gov.

What is a provisional election, and why would I need i?

Washington provides in person aforementioned-day registration services at county elections offices and provisional ballots are not common. A provisional ballot is a ballot issued to a person seeking to vote who might otherwise be denied the opportunity to vote a regular ballot. Conditional ballots are researched to confirm the voter's registration before the election is counted.

How do I right my ballot?

Follow the instructions on your election for how to right a error.

What happens if I vote for more than one candidate?

When more votes for an office or issue are selected than are permitted by law, the votes will be considered an over vote and no votes volition be recorded for that office or issue. In this instance, the remainder of your ballot that is valid will exist counted. You lot may only vote for i candidate in most instances. In rare instances, when you may vote for more than than one candidate, it will be clearly indicated on the ballot.

Will my ballot count if I choose not to vote on certain problems or candidates?

Aye, it will. Y'all can choose to skip whatsoever measures or offices you don't wish to vote in. All the votes you lot bandage will be counted.

Will my vote count if I forgot to seal my ballot in the security envelope?

Yes, it will. Your elections department will deeply process your ballot if your security envelope is unsealed.

How does the elections department process my vote past mail (absentee) ballot securely?

It is essential to the integrity of an election that ballot processing be accurate and transparent, while maintaining your right to a secret ballot. After you render your voted ballot, your county elections department follows this election counting process:

  1. Your signature on the outer return envelope is checked confronting the signature on file in your voter registration record to make sure they match.
  2. You are credited for voting in that election. This ensures that only one election from each voter is counted.
  3. The outer return envelope, which identifies yous, is so separated from the inner security envelope, which contains your voted election. Your ballot cannot be traced dorsum to you, ensuring the secrecy of your vote.
  4. All ballots are inspected to brand sure the tabulating automobile will exist able to read all votes. Tabulation equipment is tested before every ballot to brand sure information technology is working accurately.

The higher up steps continue with all ballots until the ballot is certified.

Elections are certified 10 days after Special Elections, 14 days subsequently Primaries and 21 days after Full general Elections. Preliminary election results are released on ballot night after viii p.m. and are updated equally additional ballots are counted.

Yous are welcome to observe ballot processing. Contact your canton elections department for more than information.