Voting Your Ballot FAQ

Can I vote In-Person?

The Auditor's Office is a Voting Center. We register voters and issue ballots. You can return your ballot to the official ballot drop box in the courthouse. We do have an ADA compliant accessible unit to assist voters with disabilities to mark their ballots. Ballots marked on this device are printed out and deposited in the ballot drop box.

I missed the last few elections, can I still vote?

Yes, you can. We will continue to mail a ballot to you, it is your choice to return it or not. We will stop mailing ballots to you if the Post Office notifies us of an address change outside of Whatcom County OR if the mail was undeliverable.

I didn't receive my ballot or I lost my ballot. How do I get another one?

Ballots are mailed to the address on your voter registration file 20 days prior to the election. Ballots usually arrive within 3-5 days after mailing.

If you did not receive your ballot or need a replacement for any reason please contact our office and we can mail you one. You can also download a replacement on VoteWA.gov

I received two ballots, does that mean I get to vote twice?

Sorry you don’t get to vote twice! If you have recently changed your name or address, a replacement ballot will be mailed to you. You should vote the ballot that was mailed to your correct address or name. Each return envelope has a unique barcode associated with a specific voter, and only one ballot may be accepted for each voter. Once a ballot has been accepted for a voter, all other ballots become void.

How can I learn more about the issues and contests on the ballot?

Every election the Auditor’s Office produces a local voters’ pamphlet with information on all candidates and issues that appear on the ballot in Whatcom County. If you are only interested in the candidates and issues that will appear on the ballot for your precinct, you can log into your voter portal at VoteWA.gov to view the online voters’ guide.

Why aren't the state and federal candidates listed in the printed local voters' pamphlet?

This is only true for the November general election. The state and federal candidates are the responsibility of the Washington Secretary of State's Office. The Secretary of State's Office prints their own voters' pamphlet that includes these candidates. Our local voters' pamphlet only includes local candidates and issues. State and federal candidate information is available at either VoteWA.gov or https://www.whatcomcounty.us/1732/Current-Election.

Whatcom County will include state and federal candidates in the local voters pamphlet for the August primary election.

Why is my favorite candidate listed second on the general election ballot when they were listed first on the primary election ballot?

The ballot order for the Primary Election is determined by lot draw. The candidate with the most votes in the Primary Election moves to position 1 for the General Election. 

What happens if I vote for more than one candidate?

If you make more than one choice (without correcting) in a contest or question, no votes will count for that contest or question.

I’ve made a mistake on my ballot. How do I correct a vote?

To correct a vote, draw a line through the entire incorrect choice.  You may then make another selection.

Do I have to vote on everything on the ballot?  What if I skip something?

All the votes you cast will be counted. If you do not make a choice for a question or contest, no votes will be counted for that specific question or contest.

I forgot to put my ballot in the security sleeve. Is that ok? 

The security sleeve is optional.  The Return Envelope IS required when returning your ballot, don’t forget to sign!

Why do I have to sign the ballot return envelope?

Your signature on the ballot envelope is used to verify that the correct person voted the ballot. Our staff are trained by the Washington State Patrol in signature verification. We compare the signature on every envelope to the signature on file for the voter in the voter registration database. If the signature does not match or the envelope is unsigned, we challenge it. The voter will receive a letter in the mail explaining how to correct the problem. We are also required to call all voters with signature challenges prior to certification of the election.

My (spouse, roommate, partner) signed my ballot. What should I do?

This a very common mistake, and happens all the time! If someone has mistakenly signed your ballot envelope, draw a line through the incorrect signature and sign your name directly above the correction.

I reopened my return envelope and sealed It shut with tape/glue. Will my vote still count?

Yes! As long as the signature on your return envelope matches your registration, your vote will still count.

Do I need to put a stamp on my envelope for it to be returned to you timely?

It is not necessary to place a stamp on your ballot envelope. Pre-paid postage is included. The envelope must be postmarked by Election Day and received in our office prior to certification of the election. If you are concerned about mailing your ballot, please use one of our 23 ballot drop boxes. Please vote early to ensure your vote will be counted.

I got a letter saying my signature did not match the signature on file with your election office. Is my ballot no longer accepted?

All signatures are verified by staff trained by the Washington State Patrol. Staff are trained to look for signature similarities and patterns. However, signatures often change and your signature may no longer match what we have on file. If you receive a signature challenge letter, please sign the letter and return to our office via mail, email, or in person as soon as possible. We will count your ballot as soon as we receive your signed letter and can verify your signature matches.  Challenge letters must be received by 4:30 pm the day before the election is certified in order for your ballot to be counted.

How do I know if my ballot has been received and accepted?

Voters can login to the VoteWA voter portal to track the status of their ballots.

My name is on a list of "rejected" ballots on a third party website. So my vote isn't going to be counted?

Many outside interest groups post information on ballots that have been challenged (unsigned, signature does not match, etc.). These ballots are not rejected. The voter will receive a letter from the Auditor's Office with instructions on how to resolve the issue and have their vote count. If the voter does not respond to the letter, the Auditor's Office will call them prior to certification. If the voter does not resolve the issue prior to certification their vote will not count.

When I logged into the VoteWA voter portal, the list of "My Elected Officials" are not the candidates that I marked on my ballot.

The "My Elected Officials" portion of the VoteWA voter portal lists the currently serving elected officials. It does not list the candidates that you selected on your ballot. The secret ballot process ensures that we do not know which candidates you marked.