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Exercising Your Right to Vote
Date: August 21, 2000
Prepared by: Beth Stevens, Legal Advocacy Team
In the state of Washington, any U.S. citizen aged 18 or older who has been a legal resident of the state for 30 days may register to vote, with certain exceptions. Voters are not required to declare their political affiliation when they register to vote. The elections system has an obligation to provide accommodations to make it possible for people with disabilities to exercise their right to vote.
Where can I get a voter registration form?
►In person: You can obtain a registration from your county auditor or county elections office, and at some government offices, public libraries and schools.
► By phone: You can request a registration form by phone by calling the Voter Information Hotline at 1-800-448-4881 (voice) or 1-800-422-8683 (TDD).
►By mail: You can send a written request for a registration form to:
Office of the Secretary of State
Voter Registration Services
P.O. Box 40230
Olympia, WA 98504-0230
►Online: You can also obtain a registration form on the Internet at the www.vote.wa.gov web site. Download the registration form, complete it, print it out, sign it and mail it to:
Office of the Secretary of State
Voter Registration by Mail
P.O. Box 40230
Olympia, WA 98504-0230
How many days before an election must I be registered to be able to vote?
You may register at any time either in person or by mail, but in general you must register at least 30 days prior to an election in which you wish to vote. This means that if you are mailing in your registration form, it must be postmarked by the 30-day cut-off. If you miss the 30-day cut-off, you can still register to vote in person at your county elections department no later than 15 days before the election.
What if I move? Do I have to register again?
If you move to another county, you must complete a new voter registration form. If you move within the same county, you do not have to fill out a registration form again, but you must contact your county elections department and request a transfer of your registration to your new address. This can be done in person or by phone.
How do I request an absentee ballot?
An absentee ballot is the same ballot used at the polling place, except that the voter casts the vote by mail. Absentee ballots are available to any voter; you do not need to be ill or out of the region to request an absentee ballot. You may request an absentee ballot as early as 45 days before an election by contacting your county auditor or elections department by phone, fax or mail. The Office of the Secretary of State does not distribute the absentee ballots. Absentee ballots must be issued before election day, and must be returned and/or postmarked on or before election day.
When are elections usually held? How long are the polls open?
The state primary election is held on the third Tuesday in September, and the general election is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Polling hours are 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Are there any state agencies that help people with disabilities register to vote?
In 1993, Congress enacted the National Voter Registration Act, more commonly known as the Motor Voter Act. This act requires states to designate agencies which primarily serve people with disabilities to offer voter registration services. In Washington, the designated agencies include:
 | Aging and Adult Services Administration |
| Economic and Medical Field Services |
| Division of Developmental Disabilities |
| Department of Services for the Blind |
| Division of Vocational Rehabilitation |
| Department of Labor |
| Veterans’ Affairs Administration |
| Disabled student services offices on public university campuses |
All of these agencies should be able to provide you with voter registration forms. Caseworkers at these agencies should inquire if you wish to register to vote. If you are not registered to vote but wish to register, your caseworker can assist you in filling out a registration form. Your caseworker can also assist you with mailing your completed registration form to the Secretary of State’s Office.
Are polling places required to be accessible?
Yes. Under the Voter Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, states must ensure that voters who have are elderly or have a disability have access to a polling place or that an alternative means for casting their ballot is provided. The following accessibility standards apply to polling places:
►A signed disabled parking space for available off-street parking
►Signs identifying an accessible route of travel to the polling place if it is different than the primary route
►An unobstructed route of travel to the polling place
► Level, firm, stable and slip-resistant surfaces
►An unobstructed area for voting
►At least one voting booth with a maximum height of 30 inches and a minimum knee clearance of 27 inches
►Sufficient lighting along the accessible route of travel and within the polling place.
If an assigned polling place does not meet accessibility standards, everyone assigned to the polling place should receive a written notice from the county auditor or elections office at least 30 days before the election explaining the factors that make the polling place inaccessible. However, to ensure that you have access to your assigned polling place, you should check with the county auditor or elections office, or visit the polling place to which you have been assigned prior to the election. If your polling place is not accessible, call or write to the county auditor or elections office to request an alternative polling place or an alternative means of casting your vote. Your request must be received no later than 20 days prior to the election in which you wish to vote.
I have a guardian. Do I still have the right to vote?
In Washington, there are two types of legal guardianships for people over the age of 18 which could affect your right to vote. The two types of guardianships are full legal guardianship and limited legal guardianship. If a court has imposed a full guardianship for you, you lose your right to vote unless the court which ordered the guardianship specifically finds that you are rationally capable of voting. If a court has imposed a limited guardianship for you, you retain the right to vote unless the court has specifically taken away the right to vote in your guardianship papers. See RCW 11.88.010(5).
Do I still have the right to vote if I live in a residential facility, such as a group home, nursing home, or psychiatric hospital?
If you live in a group home, nursing home, psychiatric hospital or other residential facility and you are not the subject of a full legal guardianship, you retain your right to vote. The staff may assist you with voter registration and voting. If you are having difficulty in obtaining assistance with voter registration or voting, contact Washington Protection and Advocacy System (WPAS) at 1-800-562-2702 voice, or 1-800-905-0209 TDD.
.Don’t felons lose their right to vote?
Under the Washington Constitution, Article VI Section 3, a person who has been convicted of an "infamous crime" loses their right to vote. The state’s current process for enforcing this provision is to automatically disenfranchise anyone convicted of a felony and sentenced to death or to incarceration in a state prison. However, once a person who has been convicted of a felony has been released from prison, the person’s right to vote is restored and the person can register to vote again. When registering to vote after release from prison, the person convicted of a felony must present his or her certificate of discharge from prison.
Can I get elections materials in an alternative format?
Ballots are not available in alternative formats. However, you can obtain copies of the voter’s pamphlet in a variety of alternative formats, including braille, large print and on tape. The voter’s pamphlet contains detailed information about initiatives and candidates that will appear on the ballots of major elections. Once you request the voter’s pamphlet in an alternative format, you will continue to receive future voter’s pamphlets in the format you requested. To request a voter’s pamphlet in an alternative format, call the Voter Information Hotline at 1-800-448-4881 (voice) or 1-800-422-8683 (TDD).
I have a disability that makes it difficult for me to vote. Will there be someone at my polling place to assist me?
If you are unable to vote due to a physical or sensory impairment, you may request assistance at your polling place. Two election officers, one from each party, should be available at your polling place to assist you, or you may designate a person of your choice to provide assistance.
Where can I find more information on elections and voting?
Office of the Secretary of State
Voter Registration Services
P.O. Box 40230
Olympia, WA 98504-0230
http://www.vote.wa.gov/
Voter Information Hotline
1-800-448-4881 (voice)
1-800-422-8683 (TDD)
League of Women Voters
1411 Fourth Avenue Building, Suite 803
Seattle, Washington 98101-2216
1-800-419-2596
http://www.lwvwa.org/
This publication is an information service of the Washington Protection & Advocacy System (WPAS). It provides general information only and should not be used as legal advice for any specific situation. If you would like more information about this topic, call us and ask for a Resource Advocate.
To receive this document in an alternative format, such as large print or Braille, please call Washington Protection & Advocacy System (WPAS) at 1-800-562-2702.
WPAS is a member of the National Disability Rights
Network
A substantial portion
of the WPAS budget is federally funded.
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