Registration deadlines
| Date of Election |
29 day mail-in registration and address change deadline |
Eight-day in-person registration deadline* |
| February 12, 2013 |
January 14, 2013 |
February 4, 2013 |
| April 23, 2013 |
March 25, 2013 |
April 15, 2013 |
| June 25, 2013 |
May 25, 2013** - mail-in deadline;
May 27, 2013 - online deadline |
June 17, 2013 |
| August 6, 2013 |
July 8, 2013 |
July 29, 2013 |
| November 5, 2013 |
October 7, 2013 |
October 28, 2013 |
* People not currently registered in the State of Washington have until 8 days before the election to register in-person
** Because of the Memorial Day holiday on May 27, citizens planning to mail their voter registration forms need to make sure that they are postmarked by Saturday, May 25. The U.S. Postal Service has confirmed that mail will not be processed or postmarked on Sunday, May 26, or Monday, May 27.
- Applications or updates must be postmarked or submitted no later than the Monday four weeks before Election Day. (RCW 29A.08.140)
- If you are not currently registered in Washington state, you can register in person at the King County Elections Office or the King County Voter Registration Annex until the Monday one week before Election Day. (RCW 29A.08.140)
- If you are registered to vote but miss the deadline to update your King County address, you can still vote. Contact the King County Elections Office to obtain a ballot.
See the Washington Secretary of State for additional information.
Voter registration forms
You may register to vote by downloading and completing a voter registration form from the Secretary of State's website. Some forms can be completed with your keyboard; others must first be printed. Deliver the form to our office by mail or in person.
Choose your language:
- English (pdf)
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Voter registration forms are also available at the following locations:
Voter registration requirements
To register to vote in the state of Washington, you must be:
In the state of Washington, you do not have to register by political party or declare political party membership to vote in the state's regular primaries or general elections.
If you move or change your name
Moving and/or changing your name within King County
If you are a current registered voter and have moved or changed your name, you need to notify our office. You can update your information online or you can provide King County Elections with the following information:
- Registered name (and new name if changed)
- Date of birth
- Voter registration number (if known)
- Residence address (and new address if changed)
- Mailing address (if different)
- Signature (and new signature if changed)
- Daytime and nighttime phone number
If you have moved from one address in King County to another, you can also report your new King County address by calling us at 206-296-VOTE (8683).
To be eligible to vote in your new precinct or under your new name, you must update your record no later than 29 days prior to the election.
Moving from one county to another within Washington State
If you move between counties in Washington, you must update your voter registration . To be eligible to vote in your new precinct, you must update your Washington State registration no later than 29 days prior to the election.
Moving out of state
You must re-register to vote in your new state. Please help keep our voter rolls current; print, complete, and mail a voter registration cancellation form (pdf) to ensure your King County voter registration is canceled.
Other voter information
Address confidentiality program
The Address Confidentiality Program assists crime victims (specifically victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking) who have relocated to avoid further abuse. It helps participants keep their home, work and/or school address secret by providing a substitute mailing address. It also allows clients to register to vote or apply for a marriage license without revealing their actual address.
To participate or learn more about the Address Confidentiality Program, please visit http://www.secstate.wa.gov/acp/ or call (800) 822-1065 (in Washington only).
Felon voter restoration
A person convicted of a felony in a Washington State Court has his or her right to vote automatically restored when he or she ceases to be under the authority of the Department of Corrections . If a person fails to repay legal financial obligations in a timely manner, the Prosecutor can bring an action in Superior Court to re-revoke the right to vote.
Mailing address vs. residential address
As a voter, the residential address you provide determines the issues and candidates that you can vote on. However, you can receive your elections mail at any valid mailing location you choose: a post office box, personal mailbox, college mailbox, or a military or out of state/country address. All elections-related materials, including your ballot, will be sent to the mailing address you provide.
Non-traditional residential addresses/homeless voters
The Washington Constitution doesn’t require a "residence" as a condition of voting as long as a person meets all other registration requirements. (Article VI Section1)
Voters who lack a traditional residential address can register at the shelter, park, motor home, intersection or other identifiable location they consider their residence. This location will be used to determine which precinct they will vote in. (RCW 29A.08.112 effective 2005)
Along with your residential address, you must also provide a valid mailing address. An accurate, valid mailing address is essential in order to receive ballots and election information on time. This can include a post office box, address of a friend or relative, shelter, or general delivery at a local post office.
Registration cancellation
Your registration will be cancelled if you notify us of a move out of the county or if you no longer wish to be a registered voter. Print and sign the voter registration cancellation form (pdf).
Report a deceased voter
If a voter is deceased, another registered voter may fill out a death card to cancel the registration. Print and sign a voter registration cancellation form (pdf).
Update your signature
People’s signatures may change for many reasons: name change, the passage of time, physical changes or simply changing the way you sign your name. Voters should periodically update their signature with Elections to avoid a “signature challenge.” If a voter’s signature on the ballot return envelope doesn’t match the signature on the voter registration record, that ballot cannot be processed until the voter remedies the problem.
There are two ways to update your signature:
- Print, fill out and sign a voter registration form with the signature you currently use. Return it to King County Elections by mail, email or fax (206-296-0108). We will add your new signature to those we already have on file for you.
- If your Washington State driver’s license or identification has the signature you want to use, you can make the change online. Adding your driver’s license or identification number will link the signature on your driver’s license or i.d. to your voter registration record. Just go to MyVote , enter your information, and follow the prompts.
Voter registration challenge
Registration of a person as a voter is presumptive evidence of his or her right to vote. However, the registration of a voter may be challenged by another registered voter. The challenge process is established in RCW 29A.08.810 through RCW 29A.08.850.
