Here’s what Washington state voters can do to make sure their ballots are counted
It’s easier to vote in Washington state than almost anywhere else in the nation, where elections have been held by mail in many counties for 20 years.
All-mail voting was adopted statewide in 2011, and Washington is one of only five U.S. states that vote exclusively by mail.
All registered Washington voters will get a ballot automatically in the mail starting Oct. 14, and all those ballots should be received by Oct. 21.
Some 72 percent of eligible Washington voters cast ballots statewide in the 2018 midterm election but that was only 53% of the voting-age population, according to data from the state Secretary of State’s Office.
Election officials in Washington state aren’t expecting many surprises this election year despite the new coronavirus pandemic, because voting has been conducted by mail for so long.
Election officials urge voters to check their registration online or with their county auditor’s office, while there’s time to make address corrections or other changes without going to the office.
Disqualified votes
Poll-closing time of 8 p.m. on Election Day is when ballot drop-off boxes are locked, and when mailed ballots that arrive in the office must be postmarked.
That’s postmarked — not just placed in the mailbox.
This year, U.S. Postal Service officials recommend mailing your ballot no less than one week before Election Day to ensure a valid postmark.
Otherwise, use one of the ballot drop boxes located in every county.
For those voters who are cutting it close, it’s important to check the last pickup time on the mailbox they use.
How to register
▪ Register to vote and check or change your registration information at VoteWA.gov.
▪ Register to vote when you get a driver’s license.
▪ Register or change your address online or by mail through Oct. 26, and in person at your county auditor’s office from Oct. 27 until poll-closing time of 8 p.m. Nov. 3.
Mark your ballot
Every registered voter will get a ballot in the mail starting Oct. 14.
Contact you county auditor’s office if you haven’t received one by Oct. 21.
▪ Read the instructions and mark your ballot using ink or dark pencil.
▪ Fill in the oval for the candidate or measure of your choice, and avoid stray marks.
▪ Sign your ballot envelope.
Send it in
▪ Postage is free, or use a drop box.
▪ U.S. Postal Service officials recommend mailing your ballot no less than one week (Oct. 27) before Election Day to ensure a valid postmark.
▪ Use a ballot drop box any time, and especially if it’s only a few days until election day.
▪ Check to see if your ballot was accepted at VoteWA.gov.
▪ Ballots must be postmarked, and not simply mailed, by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3.
▪ Check the last pickup time at the mailbox you use.
▪ Your ballot will be counted if it arrives in the mail after election day, as long as it was postmarked before 8 p.m. Nov. 3.
This story was originally published September 29, 2020 at 10:18 AM with the headline "Here’s what Washington state voters can do to make sure their ballots are counted."
