Washington Voter Registration Information

Primary Election
August 7, 2012

Primary Election Voter Registration Deadline
July 30, 2012

General Election
November 6, 2012

General Election Voter Registration Deadline
October 29, 2012

Voter Registration and Eligibility
The deadline for registering or transferring your voter registration is 30 days before an election. If you register by mail, your application must be postmarked by the 30-day cutoff or it will not become effective until after the election.

If you are not already registered to vote in Washington and you miss the 30-day deadline, you can register in person at your County Elections Department until 15 days before the election. Contact your County Auditor for assistance and information.

Can select party affiliation at the polls.

QUALIFICATIONS

To register to vote in the state of Washington, an individual must meet the following qualifications:

• Must be a United States citizen
• Must be at least 18 years old on or before Election Day
• A legal resident of Washington state
• Must not maintain a registration in two or more counties or states or with two or more names
• Must not be denied voting rights for being subject to guardianship
• Must not be a convicted felon without restored civil rights

OBTAINING A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM

Register to vote in person or obtain a mail-in application from your County Elections office (contact information).

Request a mail-in voter registration form online here.

Obtain a voter registration form online here.

WASHINGTON ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Who Can Absentee Vote in Washington?

Any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot. You do not need to be ill or "absent" to be an absentee voter.

How Can I Acquire an Absentee Ballot?

You may choose to mark the box on the voter registration form to request an ongoing absentee ballot. This means you are requesting to receive a ballot by mail for each election in which you are eligible to vote. If you choose not to receive absentee ballot automatically, you may either vote at the polls or request an absentee ballot for any given election.

You may request an absentee ballot as early as 90 days before an election. (No absentee ballots are issued on Election Day except to a voter who is a resident of a health care facility). The request for an absentee ballot must be made to your county auditor or elections department (not to the Secretary of State).

One-time absentee ballot requests may be made either in person, by phone, fax, electronically or by mail. Contact your County Auditor to request an absentee ballot.

Additional Information for Overseas Voters

How do I Return the Absentee Ballot and What is the Deadline?

Absentee ballots must be signed and postmarked or delivered to the County Election Officer on or before Election Day.

Source of information:
Washington Secretary of State
Elections Division
520 Union Avenue Southeast
Post Office Box 40229
Olympia, Washington 98504-02209
Phone: 360-902-4180 or 800-448-4881
Fax: 360-586-5629
TDD/TTY: 800-422-8683
Email: [email protected]

http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/

PROTECT YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
BY EXERCISING YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE!