Washington Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should visit the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Important Deadlines

• Voter Registration: Postmarked by the Monday four weeks before the election (by mail); the Monday one week before the election (in person)
• Absentee Ballot Application: No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least one month before the election
• Voted Absentee Ballot: Postmarked on or before election day

How to vote by absentee ballot

Register to vote:

There are three ways to register to vote:

1. Use the Washington Voter Registration Form.  Mail your completed forms to your County Auditor. 
2. If you have a Washington State driver's license, or a Washington State Identification card, you may register to vote online.
3. Use our Voter Registration Widget.  Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form. 

Verify your voter registration

It's best to double check your registration before applying for your absentee ballot. Verify your voter registration today and avoid problems down the line. If there's a problem with your registration, register again before proceeding.

NOTE: Most people receive their voter registration cards in the mail 2-3 weeks after registering to vote. Don't worry if you lost your voter registration card. You don't actually need it to vote.

Make sure you're eligible to vote by absentee ballot

Good news!  Any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot in Washington. 

Apply for your absentee ballot

You may request an absentee ballot as early as 90 days before an election. There's no official deadline, but no absentee ballots are issued on election day except to voters who are residents of health care facilities.

Use the Washington absentee ballot application to request your absentee ballot.  (Note: there's no official absentee ballot application, but we've made one that meets all legal requirements).  Return your completed application to your County Auditor.  You can return your application in person, by mail, by fax, or by email. 

Your County Auditor will review your application and confirm that you are properly registered to vote before mailing you your absentee ballot.

Receive, complete, and return your absentee ballot

The ballot itself is pretty straightforward.  Complete it, seal it in the envelope, and sign where indicated.  Mail or hand-deliver your voted ballot to your County Auditor.  Your ballot must be postmarked by election day (if mailed) or signed and dated by election day (if hand-delivered). 

 Frequently Asked Questions

Can I vote by mail as a first-time voter?

Yes.  Any Washington voter can vote by absentee ballot. 

Do I need to provide ID when I vote by absentee ballot?

You do not need to provide ID if you have already voted in Washington at least once.  If you are voting for the first time in Washington and you did not provide adequate ID when you registered to vote, you need to include a copy of your ID with your absentee ballot application. 

Acceptable ID includes a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID card, student ID card, or tribal ID card OR a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other current government document that shows your name and address.  (If you have not met the identification requirements, you will be notified by mail that you need to provide identification.)

Can I vote by absentee ballot on a permanent basis?

Absolutely.  Register to vote using the Washington Voter Registration Form and indicate that your mailing address is different than your Washington residential address.  If you live in Pierce County - which is the only county which still has in-person voting - fill out section 9 and indicate that you would like to receive absentee ballots for all future elections. 

Can I vote in person before the election?

If you are a voter with disabilities, you may vote in-person before the election using a special machine.  Check out our Early Voting page for details.

Additional Information