Voter Registration FAQ

Am I eligible to register to vote?

To be eligible to register to vote you must be:

  • A citizen of the United States
  • A legal resident of Washington state.
  • At least 18 years old by election day
  • Not disqualified from voting due to a court order
  • Not currently serving a sentence of total confinement under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections for a Washington felony conviction
  • Not currently incarcerated for a federal or out-of-state felony conviction

What do I need to register to vote?

There are three ways to register or update:

1. Online

  • With a current Washington State driver license or State ID, you can register or update online at VoteWA.gov

2. Paper form

3. In-person

  • You can register to vote in-person at the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office, Election Division

You can register to vote online or by mail until 8 days before an election, or in-person through Election day. Registrations returned by mail need to be received by the 8-day deadline. Important election dates can be found at Elections in 2024.

Am I eligible to vote if I was convicted of a felony?

Yes! If you were convicted of a felony in a Washington State adult court, your right to vote is automatically restored as soon as you are no longer serving a sentence of total confinement under the authority of the Department of Corrections (DOC). This means that once you have completed any required prison sentence, your right to vote has been restored upon release from prison and you will be eligible to register immediately at that time if you are a U.S. citizen, Washington resident, and at least 18 years old by election day.

How do I update my political party affiliation?

We do not track party affiliation as part of your voter registration. You may vote for any candidate you would like regardless of political party. The one exception is the presidential primary. For that election, declaring party affiliation is required and retained during that election only.

How do I sign up to be an absentee voter?

All voters in Washington vote by mail. You do not need to request an absentee ballot. Ballots are mailed 20 days before the election.  

Can I be registered to vote in more than one county/state?

No, you may only vote in one county in one state. You may only vote once. The voter declaration on the return envelope that you sign states you are "... voting only once in this election and not voting in any other United States jurisdiction;..."

Is my voter registration information public?

Yes, your name, year of birth, gender, residential & mailing address are public information.  See RCW 29A.08.710 for the complete list of information available for public inspection. 

How can I cancel my voter registration?

You can cancel your voter registration by signing a cancellation form.

Voter Registration Cancellation Form

Are voter registrations accurate?

Washington’s voter registration system (VoteWA) is updated daily by county election officials as well as the Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS). We work with many other state agencies to improve the accuracy of voter registration data.

OSOS regularly provides counties with lists of voters who need to be removed from voter rolls, including deceased voters, voters in custody for a felony conviction, or voters who may be registered in another county or state. Our office also regularly checks local obituaries for deceased voters who need to be removed.

Washington is also a member of ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center), that compares voter registration and motor vehicle license data across 25 other member states. ERIC uses sophisticated data matching software that can detect when a voter is registered in another state.

All election mail that is returned to us by USPS as undeliverable is processed, and if the voter has not updated their registration, is made inactive. Inactive voters are not mailed a ballot until they update their registration. If any election mail is sent to your address in the name of someone who doesn’t reside with you, please write “return to sender” or “not at this address” on the envelope, and put it back in the mail.

With all that said, we still rely on voters to keep their registration up to date. If you move or change your name, please contact our office at (360) 778-5102 or update online at VoteWA.gov.

Do people have to prove US Citizenship when they register to vote?

No. When voters register and return a ballot, they attest in a signed statement that they are a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote. A person who submits false citizenship on their voter registration application or votes as a non-citizen is guilty of a class C felony. This is clearly stated on all registration forms, and on every ballot envelope. 

However, in order to register to vote in Washington, people must provide some form of identification. Common identification includes a Washington State driver license or ID, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. 

While state law does not provide for citizenship verification upon registration, it does allow a challenge of a voter registration, which can be brought by any person or the county prosecutor. The burden of proof lies with the challenger, and evidence must be presented to the county canvassing board for review. Learn more about the challenge process here.

How do I request a registered voter list?

Complete the voter information request form and return it to the election division with payment.