Election Day · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
How to vote in Washington
The deadlines, early voting, mail ballots and ID rules for Washington, and what happens after the polls close. Every fact links to the Washington Secretary of State or the law it comes from. Rules change, and courts sometimes change them close to an election, so confirm anything you are relying on with the state.
Checked against official sources on October 8.
Key dates
- Register online by
Monday, October 26
Received by October 26 (8 days before the election).
- Register by mail by
Monday, October 26
Received, not postmarked: the county elections office must receive the form by October 26.
- Register in person by
Tuesday, November 3
In person at a county elections office or voting center until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
- Same-day registration
Yes
Register in person until 8 p.m. on Election Day and get a regular ballot.
- Early voting
Friday, October 16 to Tuesday, November 3
The 18-day voting period begins.
- How early voting works
There are no traditional polling places; every voter gets a ballot by mail. Voting centers run from October 16 until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Find them at VoteWA.gov.
- Request a mail ballot by
No request needed. If your ballot doesn't arrive, contact your county elections office or print a replacement at VoteWA.gov.
- Return your mail ballot by
Tuesday, November 3
Either in a drop box (or returned in person) by 8 p.m. on Election Day, or postmarked by Election Day. The state advises mailing more than a week early, since late postmarks happen; drop boxes by 8 p.m. are guaranteed on time.
- Election Day polling hours
Polls close at 8 p.m.
Drop boxes and voting centers close at 8 p.m. Pacific.
Voting by mail
- Who can vote by mail
Every voter is mailed a ballot
Every registered voter gets a ballot by mail at least 18 days before the election; no request needed. Return postage is prepaid.
- Drop boxes
Yes
Official drop boxes in every county; find them at VoteWA.gov.
- Ballots arriving after Election Day
Yes
Yes: ballots postmarked by Election Day count if received by the day before county certification (November 23, since counties certify November 24).
ID at the polls
- The rule
No ID needed for most voters
No ID is needed to vote a mail ballot; signatures are checked. A person who registers without ID must provide a qualifying ID before their ballot is counted.
- What to bring
Washington votes by mail, and your signature on the return envelope is compared with your registration. You don't need to show ID to vote, but if you registered without ID, your ballot isn't counted until you give the county a qualifying ID.
When will we know results in Washington?
How fast results come in depends mostly on when the polls close and when election officials are allowed to start on mail ballots. Totals shown on election night are unofficial until the state certifies them.
- Last polls close
8 p.m. Pacific time — 11 p.m. Eastern
- Mail ballots can be processed from
Friday, October 16
Envelopes may be opened and processed as soon as they arrive (RCW 29A.40.110(1)). Ballots go out from October 16.
- Mail ballots can be counted from
Tuesday, November 3
Tabulation may not begin until after 8 p.m. on Election Day (version of RCW 29A.40.110 in effect until January 1, 2029).
- Counties finish their count by
Tuesday, November 24
County canvassing boards certify and transmit results (21 days after the election).
- State certifies results
Thursday, December 3
Last day for the Secretary of State to certify.
- Automatic recount
Under 0.5% and under 2,000 votes
A machine recount is mandatory when the margin is under 2,000 votes and under 0.5% of the votes for the two candidates. Statewide races or measures go to a manual recount when under 1,000 votes and under 0.25%. Mandatory recounts cost candidates nothing.
- Requested recount
Any margin
When a recount isn't mandatory, it can be requested within two business days after results are declared. The requester pays unless the result is reversed.
- Runoff
No runoff — the candidate with the most votes wins
RCW 29A.60 resolves ties among candidates with "an equal and highest number of votes" by lot, i.e. the highest vote wins.
- Ranked-choice voting
Not used
What’s on your ballot
Every contest you will vote on, from Congress to school board, with each candidate’s positions and record and the arguments for and against them.
Confirm this with the official source
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Washington Secretary of State.