Register to Vote
Washington State Elections offers 3 ways to register.
Voter Eligibility
Washington State encourages every eligible person to register to vote and participate fully in all elections. Each of us is responsible for protecting the integrity of the electoral process by providing equal access, and guarding against fraud and discrimination.
Citizenship
You must be a citizen of the United States. If you have questions about citizenship, contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Residency requirements
You must be a resident of Washington State. Your voting residence is your permanent address or a transitional address where you physically reside.
Felony Convictions and voting rights
If you have been convicted of a felony, your right to vote will be restored automatically as long as you are not incarcerated (serving a term of total confinement under the Department of Corrections). Once your right is restored, you must re-register to vote in order to receive a ballot.
Mental competency and voting rights
Only a Superior Court can declare a person ineligible to vote due to mental incompetency. A guardian may not vote on behalf of the person under guardianship, and power of attorney does not extend to voting.
Do not
- Submit false information on a voter registration application;
- Register in more than one location; or
- Accept payment, or offer to pay another, to register to vote.
If you have witnessed, or been a victim of, fraud or discrimination you may submit a Voter Concern Form.
Residency Requirements
To register to vote in Washington State, you must be a resident of the state.
You may specify a mailing address that is different from your residential address.
You may only be registered to vote at one location, even if you own multiple residences. If you move or are temporarily away, you may maintain your voter registration at that address until you register to vote elsewhere.
If you have a nontraditional address, such as a motor home or transitional housing, your voting residence is the physical location at the time you register to vote. You may list a different address for your mailing address.
If you are a United States citizen living abroad, you may use your last Washington address. If you have never lived in the country, you may use the last address of your parents or other family member.
Even if you are living outside of Washington State, you will retain your residency if you are:
- employs in the civil or military service of the state or of the United States;
- living overseas;
- attending college or any institution of learning; or
- confined in any public prison.
You may maintain your voter registration in Washington State until you register to vote elsewhere.
For more information about voting residence, see Article VI, Sections 1 and 4 of the Washington State Constitution, RCW 29A.04.151, and RCW 29A.08.112.
To challenge a voter registration, you must file a Voter Challenge with the county elections department where that person is registered.
