Voting Access Scorecard - Washington
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Washington. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, Washington ranks 3. Nice! But there's still more you can do to make sure everyone has the right to vote. Take action now!Overall score: 25 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later Washington Secretary of State: https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVoteOLVR/MyVoteOLVR | Y |
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| State offers Election Day registration Washington Secretary of State: https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVoteOLVR/MyVoteOLVR | N |
| State has automatic registration Washington Secretary of State: https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVoteOLVR/MyVoteOLVR | N |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/faq_vote_by_mail.aspx | Y |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/faq_vote_by_mail.aspx | Y |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county Washington offers only one early vote location per county. Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/faq_vote_by_mail.aspx | N |
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| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/faq_vote_by_mail.aspx | Y |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/faq_vote_by_mail.aspx | Y |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/faq_vote_by_mail.aspx | Y |
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| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail Not required since Washington conducts all elections by mail, providing accessibility for all voters. Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/faq_vote_by_mail.aspx | Y |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/faq_vote_by_mail.aspx | Y |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently Not required since Washington conducts all elections by mail, providing accessibility for all voters. Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/faq_vote_by_mail.aspx | Y |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/Voters-Away-at-College.aspx | Y |
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| State allows voters to register online Washington Secretary of State: https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVoteOLVR/MyVoteOLVR | Y |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online Washington Secretary of State: https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVote/#/login | Y |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/faq_vote_by_mail.aspx | Y |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day All elections conducted by mail. Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/faq_vote_by_mail.aspx | Y |
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| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail All elections conducted by mail. Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/faq_vote_by_mail.aspx | Y |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) All elections conducted by mail. Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/faq_vote_by_mail.aspx | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form RCW 29A.08.640: http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.08 | Y |
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| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | Y |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | Y |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request Washington Secretary of State: https://www.facebook.com/WaSecretaryOfState/posts/1346808522041055 | N |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voter-eligibility.aspx | Y |
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| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voter-eligibility.aspx | N |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voter-eligibility.aspx | Y |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/general-election-faqs.aspx | Y |
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| State requires poll worker training Yes, but may be waived for those with experience RCW 29A.12.120 (4): http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=29A.12.120 | Y |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/election_admin_certification.aspx | Y |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information Washington Secretary of State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/general-election-faqs.aspx | Y |
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