How to vote · 2026
Washington
Ballot mailed to every voter
Every date below comes from the Washington election office and links to the page that states it. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Dates and rules
Registration, mail ballots, and early voting
Registration deadlineNovember 2, 2026Online/mail registration received by Oct. 26, 2026 (8 days before); in-person registration and same-day registration through 8 p.m. Election Day at voting centers.
Mail ballots first sentOctober 16, 2026Every active registered voter is mailed a ballot at least 18 days before Election Day (by Oct. 16, 2026; RCW 29A.40.070). Drop boxes open when ballots go out.
Return rulePostmarked by Election Day (received by Nov. 23, 2026 to count)
Early in-person votingOctober 16, 2026through November 3, 2026 · All-mail state; voting centers open for in-person assistance and voting from Oct. 16 (18 days) through 8 p.m. Election Day.
Official WA election site ↗Dates last verified against the official site September 1, 2026.Sources: [1] USA.gov directory of official state election offices[2] All-mail; ballots mailed by Oct. 16, 2026[3] CEIR 2026 voter registration deadlines (June 25, 2026 dataset; per-mode deadlines and same-day registration windows)[4] NCSL Table 7: statutory rule for when absentee/mail ballots are mailed[5] NCSL Table 11 (updated Dec. 2025): ballot receipt/postmark deadline
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The full table of mail-ballot send dates, registration deadlines, and early-voting windows for all fifty states and DC, plus the documented record of government actions on mail voting this cycle.
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