Voting FAQ

This FAQ is for absentee ballot voting, which is the only way to vote in all counties except Pierce County, which still has polling places. For any further questions about Pierce County voting, visit the Pierce County Auditor website. For any questions that aren't answered here, contact your County Auditor.

Who should I vote for?

For our endorsements, visit our Federal and Statewide Candidates page and our Local Candidates page. Remember: Even if you feel certain that your favorite candidate will advance to the general election, your vote is very important! Your vote is one way to show support for your candidate.

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

If you live in a county that conducts all elections by mail you will automatically receive a ballot. 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.

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

If Election Day is approaching and you have not received a ballot, contact pick up a replacement ballot at your County Auditor's Office for a replacement ballot.

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.

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.

This FAQ is taken from the Secretary of State's website.