Washington voter registration closes Oct 26 for the November 3, 2026 election. Every deadline — registration, mail ballot and early voting — with the official source for each.
Look up your own ballot and polling place →
18-day voting period begins Friday, Oct 16: counties mail ballots out and county voting centers open. Mailed ballots may take a few days to arrive. Voting centers and drop boxes close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov 3. Washington votes entirely by mail; every registered voter is mailed a ballot. Each county runs at least one voting center for in-person voting, replacement ballots and registration during the 18-day period.
Online registrations and updates must be received by midnight at the end of Monday, Oct 26, 2026 (8 days before Election Day). Mailed registration forms must be RECEIVED by the county elections office by close of business on Monday, Oct 26, 2026. A postmark does not count.
Register or update in person at a county elections office or voting center until 8 p.m. on Election Day. In-person registration is available through 8 p.m. on Election Day at a county elections office or voting center.
Put your ballot in an official drop box (or return it to a county elections office or voting center) by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov 3. If you mail it, it must be postmarked no later than Nov 3 and arrive by Monday, Nov 23. The postmark date is applied by the Postal Service and can be later than the day you drop it in the mail, so mail it more than a week before Election Day or use a drop box.
We publish a gap rather than a guess. These points were not settled by an official source:
Every date above was read from the Washington election office's own published material, last checked Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Confirm anything you are relying on with your local election authority.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.08.140
Submit a registration application that is received by an election official no later than eight days before the day of the primary, special election, or general election. For purposes of this subsection (1)(a), "received" means: (i) Being physically received by an election official by the close of business of the requir
https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/elections-calendar/dates-and-deadlines
October 26 Online and mail registrations must be received 8 days before Election Day.
https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-registration/register-vote-washington
You can register in person until 8 p.m. on Election Day to participate in that election.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.60.190
Each ballot that was returned before 8:00 p.m. on the day of the special election, general election, primary, or presidential primary, and each ballot bearing a postmark on or before the date of the special election, general election, primary, or presidential primary and received no later than the day before certificat
https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/helpful-information/frequently-asked-questions-voting-mail
each county opens an accessible voting center beginning 18 days before Election Day and ending at 8 p.m. Election Day.