Washington Voting Requirements & Information
U.S. Vote Foundation’s Washington Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of Washington voting rules and options. It focuses on Washington-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about Washington voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-Washington voting tools. It's an all-in-one Washington voting resource.
General Information
Registration
You can register to vote or update your registration information:
- online
- by mail
- in person at your elections office
- at some public assistance offices and motor vehicle offices
- at the polls on Election Day
You must have resided in Washington at least 30 days prior to the election in which you intend to vote.
Voting
All elections are conducted by mail in Washington. Every registered voter automatically receives a mail ballot which must be postmarked or returned to a ballot drop box by 8pm on Election Day. You do not need to request a ballot if you want to receive the ballot at the address you provided when registering.
### Find my county election office
Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to vote in Washington if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
- Have been a state resident for at least 30 days prior to the election
Convicted felons should contact their local election official to determine if they need to re-register to vote. In most cases felons are eligible to vote once they are no longer in prison or supervised by the DOC.
You are NOT eligible to vote in Washington if:
- You were disqualified from voting due to a court order
- You are in prison or jail for a felony conviction.
Restorative Requirements
- If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.
Convicted felons should contact their local election official to determine if they need to re-register to vote. In most cases felons are eligible to vote once they are no longer in prison or supervised by the DOC.
You are able to pre-register:
- At the age of 16 or 17 as long as you will be 18 by the time the next election occurs
In Washington state, 16- and 17-year-olds can sign up as Future Voters and be automatically registered to vote when they become eligible. A 17-year-old voter who will be 18 by the November General Election can vote in the Primary.
If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in Washington if:
- You provide a valid photo student ID from a college/university at the polls
- You reside in Washington but are attending college in another state
- You reside in another state but attend college in Washington
Identification Requirements
Voter Registration
To register to vote in Washington you should provide one of the following:
- Washington Learner's Permit
- Your Washington Driver's License Number
- Your Washington ID Number
If you do not have these IDs, you may provide:
- Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
Voting In-Person
Washington has all-mail elections. If you registered without a Washington Driver's License, Washington State ID, or Social Security number, you will need to show a valid ID to vote. You can use any ID from this list:
- Valid Tribal ID
- Valid Photo ID
- Valid Student ID
- Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
- Paycheck that Shows your Current Name and Address
- Government Check
- Bank Statement
- Utility Bill
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Domestic Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Where is my Ballot?
Can I Register to Vote Online?
Am I Registered?
Overseas / Military Voter Information
State Voter Registration FAQ
Where is my Polling Place?
Where is my Ballot Drop Box?
Where are my Early Voting Locations?
Has my Ballot Been Counted?
Where is my Overseas or Military Ballot?
Eligibility Requirements
Overseas Voters
U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:
- Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.
Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.
Military Voters
Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.
- If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.
To vote as a service member or eligible family member:
- Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.
Identification Requirements
Voting Overseas
U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form though ID is not required:
- U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
- Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Voting Military
Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form though ID is not required:
- U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
- Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Overseas Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |