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How to register to vote in Washington

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Registration Summary

Washington offers online voter registration. You can register by mail to vote in Washington by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to your local election office. You can also register to vote in person if you prefer. You can register or update your address online or by mail until 8 days before an election. You may also register in-person through Election Day. Registration forms submitted by mail need to be received, not postmarked by the 8-day deadline.

How do election officials keep voting secure?

Election officials in your state and community are working hard to ensure the integrity of our elections. All states have implemented security measures to protect the vote.

Visit the Washington Secretary of State website to learn more about election security. If you’re interested in getting involved with elections in your community, contact your local election office to learn about opportunities in your area.

Registration Top Actions

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Who can register to vote?

To register in Washington you must:
  • be a United States citizen
  • be a legal resident of Washington
  • be at least 18 years old by election day (16- and 17-year-olds can sign up as Future Voters and automatically be registered to vote when they qualify)
  • not be disqualified from voting due to a court order
  • not be currently serving a sentence of total confinement in prison under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections for a felony conviction in Washington State, another state, or in federal court
  • not be currently incarcerated for a federal or out-of-state felony conviction

Can I register to vote online?

  • Washington offers online voter registration.
  • To register online in Washington, you need to provide ONE of the following: Washington driver license number, Washington permit number, Washington state ID number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. If you don't have a Washington-issued ID or Social Security number, you can still register by mail or in person with an alternate ID.
Watch this video about online voter registration from the Washington Secretary of State.

Can I submit voter registration forms by mail?

Use the Washington voter registration form


You can register to vote using the Washington voter registration form. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and fill it out completely. Send the completed form to your local election office. Your form must be received by your local election office no later than 8 days before Election Day.

You can also register and vote in person at a voting center. Voting centers are open from 18 days before the election until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Watch this video about by mail registration from the Washington Secretary of State.

Can I register to vote on Election Day?

Washington does offer registration in person during the early voting period and on Election Day. Voters can update an existing voter registration with a new name or address in person at a voting center through 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Can I submit voter registration forms in person?

Watch this video about in person registration from the Washington Secretary of State.

Can I register to vote before I turn 18?

You can register to vote in Washington before you turn 18 if you:
  • are at least 16 years old
  • are a United States citizen
  • are a Washington resident
  • are not disqualified from voting due to a court order
  • are not currently serving a sentence of total confinement in prison under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections for a Washington felony conviction
  • are not currently incarcerated for a federal or out-of-state felony conviction

You must be at least 18 years old to vote, except that you may vote in a primary election if you are 17 and will be 18 by the General Election.

Can I complete a voter registration application in person before I turn 18?

Yes, you can learn more about registering to vote in person on the Washington Secretary of State website.
You can complete a voter registration application in person at any of the following public agencies in Washington:
  • County Elections Offices
  • Department of Licensing when you get your driver's license, permit, or ID

You can also register at your school's Temperance and Good Citizenship Day event in January.

Can I submit a voter registration application online before I turn 18?

Yes, you can register online on the Washington Secretary of State website.
To register using the Washington online voter registration system, you are required to provide your Washington driver license number, Washington permit number, Washington state ID number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.

If you don't have a Washington-issued ID, you can still submit a voter registration application by mail or in person with an alternate ID.

Can I submit a voter registration application by mail before I turn 18?

Yes, you can learn more about registering to vote by mail on the Washington Secretary of State website.
When submitting your application by mail in Washington, you are required to provide your Washington driver license, permit, or ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you have not been issued any of these numbers, you can leave that field blank. After you submit your application, your local election office will reach out to give you instructions about using an alternate ID to complete the voter registration process.

How do I vote if I'm in the military or live overseas?

Active-duty military, their families, and overseas citizens can register to vote and request their absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The FPCA process is done by mail, but your state may offer other options to request and return ballots. Please contact your local election office for more information about delivery and return methods, including email, fax, and state online portals. To follow the FPCA process:
  1. Fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), or download a copy. Your local election office may have questions, so please provide an email address or phone number where they can reach you.
  2. Send the application to your local election office.
  3. It is never too early to submit an FPCA! Please do so as soon as possible.
  4. Please fill out and send back your ballot as soon as you receive it.
  5. States begin mailing absentee ballots at least 45 days before Election Day. If you haven't received your ballot by 30 days before Election Day, contact your local election office.
If your ballot does not arrive after you submit your FPCA, contact your local election office first. Then:
  • You can still vote using the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). Print, sign, and mail your FWAB to your local election office.
  • If you mail a FWAB and then receive your regular absentee ballot, you should complete and mail your absentee ballot also. Election officials will ensure that only one ballot is counted.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program offers additional information on military and overseas voting in Washington. You can also call 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) or email vote@fvap.gov

How can I check my voter registration status?

You can look up your voter registration record and verify that your information is correct using Washington's voter registration lookup tool.

Which election office should I contact?

  • In Washington, your local election office runs the elections in your area. They can help you with questions about registering to vote, voting by mail, and local elections.
  • The Secretary of State oversees elections and election administration in Washington. They can help you with questions about voting in your state or election security.
  • You can contact your local election office or the Washington Secretary of State to discuss issues you might have at the polls or concerns about voter intimidation.

How do I contact my local election office?

Visit your state’s site to find your local election office.

How do I contact my state election office?