Voting In Washington State

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Registration Deadline

Can I vote in the next election?

If you registered:
  30+ days prior 30-15 days prior Less than 15 days prior
By Mail Yes No No
In Person at County Auditor's Office Yes Yes, if you are a new voter in Washington State No

How to vote:

Voter Qualifications: To register to vote, you must be a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of Washington state and at least 18 years old by election day. If you have been convicted of a felony, you must have your rights restored before you register to vote.

How to Register: Request a voter registration form from our office, or check the Washington Secretary of State’s website. You can also use this form to update your address or if your name has changed. There is space to provide your previous registration information. “Motor Voter” registration is offered when you renew or apply for your driver’s license.

Change of Residence: If you move to a new county, you must complete a new voter registration. If you move within the same county, you must request a transfer of your registration. This can be done by calling, writing or emailing the Island County Auditor’s Office, or by using the mail-in voter registration form. Note - You must reregister or transfer your registration at least 30 days before the election to be eligible to vote in your new precinct.

Ballots: Island County is a Vote by Mail County.  All active registered voters will automatically be mailed a ballot approximately 3 weeks prior to each election.  If you do not receive your ballot or if you have changed your address, please contact the Auditor's Office (360-679-7366). (Note that ballots must be signed and postmarked or delivered to the county election officer on or before Election Day.)

Elections Dates, Hours, and Regional Ballot Drop Off Centers:

Hours for all primaries and elections are 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Ballots may be mailed or dropped off on Election Day at Regional Ballot Drop Off Centers.

Before Election Day:

 Ballots may be mailed at any time until the election or voters may drop off their ballots at the following locations between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays):
  • Island County Elections Office - 400 N. Main Street in Coupeville
  • Camano Island Annex - 121 N. East Camano Drive in Camano Island

On Election Day:

 On Election Day, ballots may still be mailed, if they will carry a postmark matching the day of the election.   Please be sure to check with your local Post Office to verify their last pick up of the day. Voters may also drop off their ballots at our Regional Ballot Drop Off Centers, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the following locations:
  • Island County Elections Office - 400 N. Main Street in Coupeville
  • Camano Island Annex - 121 N. East Camano Drive in Camano Island
  • Oak Harbor School District Administration Building - 350 S. Oak Harbor Street in Oak Harbor
  • Trinity Lutheran Church - 18341 SR 525 in Freeland


Information and Assistance: For information regarding voting and elections, contact the Island County Auditor’s Office at (360) 679-7366, or the Secretary of State’s toll-free Voter Information Hotline at 1-800-448-4881 (TDD for the hearing or speech impaired: 1-800-422-8683); South Whidbey voters may call the Auditor’s Office tollfree at 321-5111; Camano Island voters may call the Auditor’s Office toll-free at 629-4522.

Remember – Ballots MUST be postmarked by the date of the election in order to be counted!

No signature or late postmarks are the two most common reasons
that a ballot cannot be counted.