State of Washington Elections & Voting
Election Day is November 5
- October 18 Start of 18-day voting period. Ballots are mailed out and Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) are available at voting centers
- October 28 Deadline to receive voter registrations online and by mail
- November 5 Deadline for in-person voter registration
- November 5 Election Day – deposit your ballot in an official drop box by 8 p.m.
To register to vote in Washington, you must be:
- A citizen of the United States
- A legal resident of Washington state for at least 30 days prior to election day
- At least 18 years old.
- If you are 16 or 17, you can sign up as a Future Voter and be automatically registered to vote when you qualify.
- Not disqualified from voting due to a court order
- Not currently serving a sentence of total confinement in prison under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections for a Washington felony conviction
- Not currently incarcerated for a federal or out-of-state felony conviction
*Effective January 1st, 2022, if you were convicted of a felony in Washington State, another state, or in federal court, your right to vote will be restored automatically as long as you are not currently serving a sentence of total confinement in prison.
How to register to vote:
It’s easy and secure to register online (you’ll need a Washington State Driver License or ID), by mail with a paper form, at a county elections office, or when you get your new state driver license or ID at the Department of Licensing. In-person same day registration and voting is allowed at your county’s election office up until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Absentee/Mail-In Voting
Washington votes by mail every election. If you are registered to vote in Washington, there is no need to request a ballot. Confirm your registration at VoteWA.gov. Return your ballot by official drop box or by mail, no stamp needed. Your ballot must be deposited or postmarked by Election Day. If mailed, the USPS recommends that you mail a week before Election Day. Washington State Vote-By-Mail Fact Sheet
Voter ID Requirements
Your signature on ballot declaration or provisional ballot must match voter registration record, or you must provide a valid (not expired) photo ID such as:
- Driver’s license
- State ID card
- Student ID card
- Tribal ID card
- Employer ID card
- US Passport
Visit VoteRiders for more information on voter ID requirements for Washington.
Early In-Person Voting
You can vote in person starting 18 days before an election and up until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Find your voting center by logging into VoteWA.gov or by contacting your county elections office. If you’re already registered, you don’t need to provide an ID.
Resources
- Guide for Voter Registration Drives in Washington
- Become a Washington Poll Worker!
- Native American Voting Rights (NAVRA)
- A Tribal Leaders Guide to Prepare for the Next Election
- Addressing: A Guide for Tribes
- Native Language Speakers Have Voting Rights!
- Examples of Voter Discrimination and Suppression in Indian Country
- Native Americans Depend on Ballot Collection
Tribes in Washington
Federally recognized tribes
- Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation
- Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
- Hoh Indian Tribe
- Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians of Washington
- Kalispel Indian Community of the Kalispel Reservation
- Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
- Spokane Tribe of the Spokane Reservation
- Lower Elwha Tribal Community
- Skokomish Indian Tribe
- Cowlitz Indian Tribe
- Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island Reservation
- Suquamish Indian Tribe of the Port Madison Reservation
- Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
- Tulalip Tribes of Washington
- Samish Indian Nation
- Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe
- Snoqualmie Indian Tribe
- Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe
- Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation
- Quileute Tribe of the Quileute Reservation
- Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation
- Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah Indian Reservation
- Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
- Nisqually Indian Tribe
- Nooksack Indian Tribe
- Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
- Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
- Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
State recognized tribes
- Chinook Indian Tribe
Native Vote Coordinators
Sign up to be a local Native Vote coordinator today!
Major Party Contact Information
Democrat
Chair, Shasti Conrad
www.wa-democrats.org
Republican
Chair, Jim Walsh
www.wsrp.org