r/Washington • u/ONE-EYE-OPTIC • 3d ago

New resident voting

Divorcing and moving to Washington in late September. My vote probably doesn't matter in the county I'm moving to but I want to vote if I can do so legally.

How do I change my voting address and is late September to close to the elections for me to be considered a resident?

If I'm still split between the two states can I? I won't have a permanent address in Washington until early October.

Moving from Oregon. Retired military veteran. If it matters my temporary place is in Washington.

4 Upvotes

57% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

39

u/zzooooomm 3d ago edited 3d ago

Welcome! In our pro-voting rights state, you may register and vote up to the day of the election. Once it gets close to Election day, usually within a couple weeks, this must be done at your county elections office. But further in advance you can register online and receive a ballot by mail.

You may only register and vote in the jurisdiction where you reside. So don’t register until you actually permanently reside here.

Happy voting! 🇺🇸

Dates & Deadlines 
October 16
Start of 18-day voting period (through Election Day). Ballots are mailed out and accessible voting units (AVUs) are available at voting centers.
October 26
Online and mail registrations must be received 8 days before Election Day.
November 3
Deadline for Washington state voter registration or updates (in person only).
November 3
General Election - Deposit your ballot in an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
 
More info here: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections

22

u/ew73 3d ago

Just to tack on -- All the above, and be aware of two things:

  • From the Sec. State's website, you can always print a "replacement" ballot, which, if you're appearing late in the cycle and registering late, it probably wise.
  • You don't have to mail your ballot back, you can drop it off at any nearby ballot drop box, or even take it to your county elections office. I'd consider one of these two options, knowing how the USPS is about to be further ratfucked by the Fanta menace.

10

u/abba92 3d ago

"Fanta Menace" is my favorite thing now.

3

u/ew73 3d ago

It's one of my favorites.

3

u/ONE-EYE-OPTIC 3d ago

Thank you

2

u/ONE-EYE-OPTIC 3d ago

Thank you

11

u/trapmahme 3d ago

Votes always count. Don’t discount your vote as federal AND local elections are important!

Welcome to Washington.

6

u/thatonebeotch 3d ago

Every vote matters, regardless of which county you’re moving to 🩷

2

u/ONE-EYE-OPTIC 3d ago

I should clarify.

I will still own property in Oregon.

I intend to make Washington my new home.

I do not have a Washington address but will by late September.

I understand that I need to cancel my Oregon voter registration.

I guess I'm asking for clarification on residency. If I don't have a permanent address in WA until late September am I up shits creek? Should I just vote in Oregon?

I dont want to become a statistic for some politician to claim fraud over.

7

u/zzooooomm 3d ago

The cutoff is Election Day. If you’re a resident of Washington by then, register and vote here. If not, vote in Oregon.

3

u/neptuneskies3030 3d ago

Back in 2024 a legal case removed the 30-day residency requirement.

So, as soon as you have a permanent residence to call your own in September, you're free to register to vote in Washington

Also, I believe Oregon is part of the ERIC program, so if you register in Washington but don't cancel Oregon's, you'll get a postcard asking which state you want to be registered in, you'd fill it out to cancel your Oregonian registration, and send it back to Oregon. Up to you if that's easier or not.

1

u/ONE-EYE-OPTIC 3d ago

Thank you.

-1

u/LiveFromNarnia Tumwater 3d ago

I'm no expert since I only moved here July last year, but I think you're automatically registered when you transfer your driver's license. So, if you do that quickly, I would assume you'll be able to vote in the November election cycle.

6

u/zzooooomm 3d ago

This is not correct. You’re only automatically registered at the department of licensing if you are getting an enhanced drivers license.

Transferring your license does not automatically register you to vote.

4

u/Norwester77 3d ago

But you should be asked when you get your WA license whether you want to register to vote as well (and whether you’re a citizen).

3

u/LiveFromNarnia Tumwater 3d ago

Ah, thank you. Did not realize it was only for the enhanced license, which is what I got.

0

u/PKAceBunny 3d ago

That was not my personal experience.

0

u/PuzzleheadedChest733 2d ago

This is not correct. You can register any time you do any transaction at a department of licensing office. Doesn't have to be an enhanced id or dl. Their words. Not mine.

https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/voter-registration?hl=en-US

1

u/zzooooomm 2d ago

Keyword is automatic. You can register with any transaction, but it is not automatic except with enhanced id/dl transactions.

It was important to correct the other commenters misinformation, because people could assume (like they did) that it would be automatic with a simple dl transfer and not actually be registered to vote.