Voting Information

You can find your polling place here. Polls will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm on Election Day.

If you do not provide one of the following items either before or at the time of voting, your ballot will be treated as a provisional ballot. Acceptable forms of ID for voting include:

-- Photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID card, student ID card, or tribal ID card
-- Voter registration card
-- Utility Bill
-- Bank statement
-- Paycheck
-- Government check
-- Other government document

Prior to each election a ballot is automatically mailed to every eligible registered voter to the address on record. 36 of Washington’s 39 counties now vote by mail. King County still maintains poll sites but has plans to switch to all mail elections in 2008. Pierce and Kittitas Counties are the other two counties that still maintain poll sites.

Absentee Voting

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

If you decide at a later time you would like to receive a ballot by mail for each election, you may do so by written request to your county elections department. Absentee ballots have to be available in the county auditor's office 20 days prior to the election.

In addition, the county auditor's office must mail all ballots to voters 18 days prior to an election. Some counties may allow absentee ballots to be forwarded. However, you should contact your county elections department and notify them of a temporary change in your mailing address. You should also contact them when you return to the address where you are registered to vote.

You do not have to return your ballot by mail. You may return your ballot to the county auditor's office or another ballot drop site designated by your county auditor. If your county has poll sites open on Election Day, you may return your mail ballot to a poll site. If you need assistance, please contact your county auditor's office.

Your ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and can be returned at a designated place by hand on Election day by 8:00 pm.

Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.

Source: Washington Secretary of State Office