Washington state is a vote by mail state, so all registered voters receive a ballot by mail. Absentee ballots only need to be requested if you will not be at your registered address during the 18 days before an election. If you are away from your registered address before an election, you can contact your county election official to see if they are able to forward your mail ballot to your new, temporary address. Your ballot is mailed to you at least 18 days before each election. Voted ballots must be postmarked or received by Election Day in order to be counted. You can sign up to track your mail ballot on your Secretary of State website. Absentee ballots begin being counted on Election Day.  If you have any questions contact your Secretary of State.

You may request an absentee ballot as early as 90 days before an election. No absentee ballots are issued on election day except to a voter who is a resident of a health care facility. The request for an absentee ballot must be made to your county auditor or elections department. You can also fill out an absentee ballot request for here.

NOTE: Absentee ballots must be signed and postmarked or delivered to the county election officer on or before election day.

Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.