Frequently Asked Questions on Voting by Mail

What are mail elections?

Mail elections are an alternative to polling place voting. Prior to each election a ballot is automatically mailed to every eligible registered voter to the address on record.

Why are elections conducted by mail?

Many Washington State voters had already requested to receive permanent absentee ballots at each election rather than go to an assigned polling place to vote on Election Day. In many counties, because of the low turnout at the polls on Election Day, it is not cost effective to continue to conduct poll site elections. Many voters enjoy the extra time to review the ballot before casting a vote that comes with voting by mail.

As a registered voter, what do I have to do to vote by mail?

You will need to keep your residence and mailing addresses current with your County Auditor to ensure your ballot is mailed to the correct location.

When are the ballots mailed to the voters?

Washington State law requires ballots be mailed to voters at least 18 days prior to an election.

I will be out of town when ballots are mailed. How do I make sure I get a ballot?

If you will return prior to Election Day, you may have time to vote and return your ballot when you get back. If you will not return prior to Election Day, you will need to provide your County Auditor with a temporary mailing address to send your ballot. If you will be unable to vote and return a regular absentee ballot you may request a Special Absentee Ballot up to 90 days before an election.

What do I do if my ballot doesn't arrive?

If Election Day is approaching and you have not received a ballot, contact your County Auditor's Office for a replacement ballot. If you would like a replacement ballot to be mailed to you, do not wait until the day before the election to request one. If there is not enough time to receive a replacement ballot by mail, you may pick one up in person.

What if I have moved and have not updated my registration?

Many counties forward mail ballots. If you receive your ballot that has been forwarded, you should contact your County Auditor to update your address.

If your ballot is returned to the County Auditor with address information from the postal service, the County Auditor may change your status as a voter from active to inactive and mail out a confirmation notice to all known addresses. If you do not respond to the notice or contact the County Auditor's Office before two federal elections pass, your voter registration will be cancelled. It is very important to notify your County Auditor's Office when you move.

How do I get information about the candidates and issues?

The Office of the Secretary of State publishes a voters' pamphlet containing information about state ballot measures and candidate statements and photographs for state offices at general elections. Some counties also produce local voters' pamphlets. Other sources of information about candidates and issues include local newspapers, television, libraries, political parties, and through candidate campaigns.

What if I make a mistake while voting my ballot?

If you make a mistake on your ballot, you may be able to correct your ballot by crossing out the incorrect vote and marking the correct choice. If your ballot is not able to be corrected, you should contact your County Auditor's Office for a replacement ballot.

Do I have to return my ballot by mail?

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. Please do not allow anyone, other than someone you trust, to deliver your ballot for you. If you need assistance, please contact your County Auditor's Office.

How much postage is required to mail my ballot back?

Most mail ballots are designed to only require a standard first class stamp. If the returning materials are expected to need extra postage, your County Auditor will indicate so in the instructions accompanying the ballot.

When must the voted ballot be returned?

Mail ballots must be post-marked on or before Election Day. If the Auditor's Office receives a ballot after Election Day that was not post-marked on or before Election Day, the votes on the ballot will not be counted.

How do I know if my ballot is received?

Upon receiving your voted ballot, your County Auditor flags your record in the system to indicate you have returned a ballot. This ensures that the Auditor will be aware of a person who returns more than one ballot. You may contact your County Auditor to ask whether your record indicates that you've returned a ballot.

Can anyone find out how I've voted once I mail my ballot?

The procedures for processing mail ballots ensure that the secrecy is maintained for each voter's ballot. The secrecy envelopes containing the ballots are removed and separated from the outer envelopes so that a particular ballot cannot be tied back to an individual voter.

Will my vote still count if I forget to put my ballot into the secrecy envelope?

Your ballot will still be counted if you forget to put your ballot into a secrecy envelope.

Will my vote still count if I forget to sign my ballot envelope?

If you return your mail ballot without signing the oath on the envelope your County Auditor will contact you by mail. You will need to return a signed oath prior to the day before certification of the election for your ballot to be counted. If your unsigned envelope is returned within three business days of certification or you have not responded to the Auditor's mailing within three business days of certification, the County Auditor will attempt to contact you by telephone.

Can somebody else sign my ballot envelope for me?

Nobody may sign your ballot envelope for you. This includes people who may have Power of Attorney to sign many documents on your behalf. If you are unable to sign the envelope, you may make a mark and have two witnesses sign that they observed you make the mark.

Can the public watch the mail ballot process?

Yes the public may observe the processing of mail ballots. You may contact your County Auditor to arrange times to observe.

When will election results be known?

The results do not become official until the election is certified. Elections are certified 15 days after a Primary or Special Election and 21 days after a General Election. Preliminary election results are released on Election Night and are updated each time the Auditor's Office counts additional valid ballots.

More questions?

Additional information may be found by reviewing Washington State's Vote-by-Mail Experience – October 2007, a comprehensive report released by the Office of the Secretary of State.

You may contact you local County Auditor or the Office of the Secretary of State if you have more questions. A list of local County Auditor phone numbers is located on the website of the Office of the Secretary of State at http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/auditors.aspx.