Worried you won’t get mail-in ballot due to wildfires? Here’s what to do in Washington

Massive wildfires have burned over 800,000 acres in Washington, destroying more than 400 structures as they go, The Seattle Times reported.

The general election is 45 days away, so those who have been displaced by the wildfires might be wondering how they can still get a ballot to vote-by-mail.

County elections offices will mail ballots to voters “no later than Oct. 16,” Kylee Zabel, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Kim Wyman’s office, told McClatchy News in an email. To make sure a ballot goes to the right place, voters must update their registration.

Voters need to provide a residential address, but if they’ve been displaced by wildfires, they can also add a mailing address “where they can receive mailed ballot materials,” Zabel said. Registrations can be updated “up to eight days prior to Election Day by visiting VoteWA.gov or by contacting their county elections office,” according to Zabel.

“Voters are encouraged to make updates to their voter registration as soon as possible to ensure their ballot is delivered to the correct location on the first try,” Zabel said.

If a voter misses the Oct. 16 deadline, they can print a replacement ballot and follow the instructions to turn it in between then and Election Day, according to Zabel. If a voter returns their ballot by mail, it has to be postmarked on or before Election Day to be counted.

Residents have the option to register to vote and receive a ballot at any county elections office between Oct. 26 and 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters who are already registered can get a replacement ballot through those locations as well.

This story was originally published September 18, 2020 at 1:29 PM with the headline "Worried you won’t get mail-in ballot due to wildfires? Here’s what to do in Washington."