How to Vote in Washington’s 2024 Elections

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• Ballot-by-mail voting starts: Friday, Oct. 18
• Deadline to register to vote by mail or online: Monday, Oct. 28  
• Deadline to register in person to vote: Tuesday, Nov. 5
• General election: Tuesday, Nov. 5

• Voter registration: Register in person at your county elections office and at voting centers, starting Friday, Oct. 18,  or up until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Check your registration status using the secretary of state’s voter portal.

• Voting by mail: All registered voters are automatically sent a vote-by-mail ballot. Completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day or returned to an official ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

• Voting in person: Vote in person starting Friday, Oct. 18 and up until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Find voting center locations and hours at VoteWA.gov or by contacting your county elections office.

Recent changes may impact how you vote in 2024:

• A new Washington legislative map adopted in March changed the boundaries of 13 legislative districts. If you’re registered to vote and your district changes, you’ll automatically receive a new voter registration card in the mail. 

• Starting July 15, you can register to vote online using the last four digits of your Social Security number, eliminating the need to provide a driver's license or state-issued ID number.

• Washington’s automatic voter registration policy has changed. Starting July 15, there will be no opportunity to opt out of voter registration when you complete certain transactions at Washington state agencies. To decline voter registration follow instructions on a notice you will receive by mail.

When providing proof of U.S. citizenship to complete certain transactions with Washington state agencies, such as getting an enhanced driver’s license or ID with the Department of Licensing, you’ll be automatically registered to vote.

You can also register:

Ted S. Warren/AP Photo

• Online: Use the state’s voter registration portal. You’ll need a current Washington driver's license, permit or ID card, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. The deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 28 by midnight.

• By mail: Print a voter registration form or submit an online request for one to be mailed to you. On the form, provide a Washington driver's license, permit or ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you can’t provide one of these IDs, leave this section blank but you will be asked for an alternative ID, such as a copy of a current utility bill or bank statement, by your county elections office before registration is approved. Return your completed form to your county elections office by mail or in person. Applications must be received – not just postmarked – by Monday, Oct. 28.

• In person: Register at a voting center starting Friday, Oct. 18, during business hours, through 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Register to vote in person at a voting center or your county elections office up until 8 p.m. on Election Day. You must provide a Washington driver’s license, permit, state ID, the last four digits of your Social Security number or other form of alternate identification, such as a copy of a recent utility bill.

If you can’t provide an acceptable form of ID, you’ll receive a provisional registration until you provide ID. If, after two federal general elections, you haven’t provided ID, your registration will be canceled.

Check your registration status using the secretary of state’s voter portal.

All registered voters are automatically sent a vote-by-mail ballot for each election. Ballots for the general election will be mailed by county elections offices no later than Friday, Oct. 18. Contact your county elections department if you don’t receive a ballot, or if your ballot is damaged or lost. You can also contact your county elections department if you’ve moved, will be away during the election period, or need to update your mailing address

Use the provided, postage-paid envelope to return your ballot by mail. Your ballot must be postmarked by Election Day. (The U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing your ballot at least one week before Election Day.) You also may return your completed ballot to an official ballot drop box up until 8 p.m. on Election Day. To find a drop box location near you, log into the state’s VoteWA portal.

To track your ballot, use the state’s VoteWA portal. Allow three to five business days for your ballot to be posted as received.

You can vote in person starting Friday, Oct. 18 and up until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Find your voting center by logging in to VoteWA.gov or by contacting your county elections office. If you’re already registered, you don’t need to provide an ID.

Log in to VoteWA.gov to find voting centers in your area, along with opening hours for each location. All voting centers close at 8 p.m.

If you’re already registered, you don’t need to provide an ID. Election officials will compare the signature on your ballot declaration against the signature collected when you registered to vote.

All registered voters, including those with disabilities and nursing home residents, can vote by mail. When completing a vote-by-mail ballot, voters can request assistance from a person of their choice or by contacting their county elections office. Voters are required to sign the ballot envelope, but if the voter can’t sign the envelope, they may make a mark, such as an X, and have two witnesses sign the envelope.

When voting in person, those who need assistance filling in their ballot can receive help from either two election officers or a person of their choice. Each voting center is equipped with an accessible voting system. Find more information at the secretary of state’s website.

Editor’s note: This guide was originally published Jan. 10, 2024 and updated with new information about voting in the 2024 elections.

Grace Dickinson is a writer for aarp.org who covers federal and state policy. She previously wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Her work has also appeared on sites including HuffPost and Eater.

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