by Rajiv Nemani
Being so privileged as to live in a democracy, voting should not be avoided or shirked as a responsibility; it is what allows regular citizens like you and me to continue to have a voice about what our government can or can't do. That being said, not everyone, especially newer citizens, knows how to vote. It can be a bit of a complex process! This short blog will go over the most critical parts of voting and registering to vote Washington State.
Step #1: Check the requirements!
No matter what state you are in, to be able to register to vote, you must be at least 18 years of age and a US citizen. Other than that, as long as you haven’t received a court order blocking you from voting or aren’t currently incarcerated for a felony, you can vote.
Step #2: Get Registered!
Great, you meet the requirements! Now it's time to register. The registration process differs greatly from state to state, but this article will focus on Washington. There are multiple ways you can register to vote in Washington:
You can register online at https://voter.votewa.gov/portal2023/login.aspx by following the instructions on the website.
You can register by mailing in a voter registration form to your county election office. The address of valid election offices can be found on the voter registration form. The link to the form is: https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-07/VRF_English.pdf.
You can also fill out the form online and print it to mail in using this website: https://vote.gov/register/washington/mail-in-form-filler.Â
You can register in person at an election office (more on this later).
The deadline to register online or through mail for Washington’s General Election in 2024 is Monday, October 28th. If you are registering in person, you can do so up until election day.Â
To register, you will need a few materials handy: you need some sort of identification (social security number, passport, or driver’s license/learner’s permit), your address, previous addresses, and birth date.
If you choose to register to vote in person, you can do so at an election center/office. As we get closer to election day (November 5th) more election offices will open up around Washington State. You can track election offices here: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-registration/drop-box-and-voting-center-locations. Remember to bring all the required materials mentioned earlier when you register to vote.
Step #3: VOTE!
Once you’ve registered, it’s time to vote. Washington allows mail-in voting and early voting in person. Before you vote, however, please do your own research on each candidate. A full list of candidates and positions in Washington state can be found here: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/2024-general-election-voters-guide. Use the voter guide as a starting point for doing voter research, and then use the news and other reliable sources to increase your knowledge.
It’s important that you don't just focus on voting for the president or congress, but also for local offices as they can be as important or more important or more important than politicians.
Starting October 18th, if you’re registered to vote, Washington will send you a mail-in ballot. If you registered to vote after this date or aren’t receiving a ballot after this date, contact your local voting office. Your ballot must be mailed in and postmarked to your local voting office by November 5th.
You can also vote in person. Washington allows you to vote early, so starting October 18th, you can go to a local voting office or ballot drop-off box to turn in your ballot. You must submit your ballot by 8pm on November 5th. If you wish to register to vote in person, you can do so at a voting office right before you vote.
Once your ballot is submitted by mail or in person, you can watch the election unfold on live TV or online.Â
References: Â
https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections#votersÂ
https://vote.gov/register/washingtonÂ
https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-registration/drop-box-and-voting-center-locationsÂ
Related Posts
