Voting is one way we can all take back power and make sure our voices are heard. It’s more than just a choice—it’s a chance to create real change. We know that many survivors of domestic violence face barriers that can make voting feel out of reach, and as advocates, we understand how complex and personal these challenges can be. But your voice is important, and your lived experience matters in shaping a world where healing, safety, and support are the norm, not the exception.
For advocates, this is an opportunity to support survivors in reclaiming their power through voting. Whether you’re navigating the system yourself or working alongside someone who is, each vote can help move us closer to a community where we all have what we need to thrive.
This election, we are asking you to do three things to make an impact:
- Register to vote if you’re eligible.
- Make a voting plan. Think about which issues are important to you in this election, which candidates align with your values, and learn more about proposed ballot initiatives in your community.
- Share this information with five people in your community before election day on November5, 2024!
Casting your ballot is important but imagine the powerful impact we could have by engaging coworkers, volunteers, board members, clients, friends, and family in efforts to empower everyone to vote! Voter engagement makes our issues relevant during elections, makes them part of public policy debates moving forward, and advances our mission to achieve a world free from violence.
Want a printable version of this guide to refer to and share with your community? Download, print, and share!
Your 2024 Voting Guide
Key Dates for the 2024 General Election
- October 18: Start of 18-day voting period (through Election Day). Ballots are mailed out and Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) are available at voting centers.
- October 28: Online and mail registrations must be received 8 days before Election Day. Register to vote in person during business hours and any time before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
- November 5: Last day to register to vote or update your voter registration (in person only).
- November 5: Election Day! Drop your ballot off in an official drop box by 8:00 pm on Election Day.
Voter Eligibility
In order to register in the state of Washington, you must be:
- A citizen of the United States;
- A legal resident of Washington State;
- At least 18 years old by election day;
- Not under the authority of Department of Corrections; and
- Not disqualified from voting due to a court order (e.g., some guardianships).
Voting Resources
Your voice matters and you can make change in your community! Check out the resources below to learn more and share with your friends and family!
VoteWA.gov: Register to vote, check your voter registration, find a ballot drop box location, and more.
Vote 411: Make a personalized voting plan! You can look at the ballot ahead-of-time, read candidate bios, and email yourself your selections so that when you receive your ballot, you can complete it right away.
Voter Registration FAQ
Does Washington have automatic voter registration?
No. Even if you are eligible to vote, you cannot vote until you register. Don’t worry—it only takes a few minutes! You can register online at VoteWA.gov. You can also register in person at your local county elections office.
Do I need to go in person to vote on election day?
No. Washington state is a vote by mail state, so all registered voters receive a ballot by mail. Voting by mail gives you time to learn about the ballot measures and candidates before casting your vote! Return your ballot to an official drop box or by mail, no stamp needed. Your ballot must be deposited or postmarked by Election Day. If mailed, the USPS recommends that you mail a week before Election Day.
What if I’ve fled the county I was registered to vote in for safety reasons and I need a replacement ballot?
Contact the elections office in the county you fled from and request a replacement ballot be mailed to a safe mailing address you can access before election day. If you’re requesting a replacement ballot within 8 days of the election, go in person to an elections office.
Do you need an ID to register to vote in Washington?
No, you do not need an ID to register to vote, but you need a current Washington State driver’s license or a current Washington State ID card to register online. If registering by mail or in person, you can provide your Social Security number and an alternative, valid photo ID, copy of a utility bill, or government document that shows both your name and address.
Voting day is here and I haven’t registered yet. Can I still vote?
Yes. Go to your local elections office or voting center before 8:00pm on November 5th, register to vote in-person and receive your ballot immediately. We recommend this option to anyone who hasn’t registered prior to 8 days before the election.
I don’t have a traditional home address. Can I still register to vote?
Yes, you can register using a shelter, park, motorhome, marina, or other identifiable location. This location will be used to determine which precinct you will vote in and what measures and candidates appear on your ballot. You must provide a valid mailing address where you can receive mail. This can include a shelter, address of a friend or relative, or general delivery at a local post office.
Does Washington restore voting rights for people with felony convictions?
Yes. A person may lose the right to vote when convicted of a felony in adult court. This right is restored, however, when a person is no longer under the authority of the Department of Corrections. A person’s right to vote is restored automatically, but you must register to vote if you want to vote. If you were previously registered to vote before being incarcerated, you must re-register to vote.
I am from Washington, but I’m attending college in another state. Where do I vote?
It’s up to you whether you want to vote in the state you’re currently residing or in Washington state. You can use your home (permanent) address if you’d like, or you can re-register in your new county.
I’m 16 now, but I want to make sure to get registered right away. How do enroll in the Future Voter Program?
In Washington state, 16- and 17-year-olds can sign up as Future Voters and be automatically registered to vote when they become eligible. A voter who turns 18 between the August Primary and the November General Election can vote in the Primary (RCW 29A.08.170).
I have a disability. How can I make sure that voting will be accessible for me?
As a voter with a disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation or assistance with voting. You can learn more about your rights and available resources from the Secretary of State. To request a resonable accommodation, contact your county elections office.
What about safety and confidentiality for survivors of domestic violence?
Personal voter information including your address could be made available through public inquiry. If you are in Washington, you can enroll in the Washington State Address Confidentiality Program (ACP), a program that issues you a substitute mailing address. Make sure you update your voter registration and replace your confidential physical address with the substitute mailing address provided by the ACP. This will ensure that any public voter roll lists the ACP address and protects your confidential address.
I am enrolled in the Address Confidentiality Program. How do I vote?
If you are already enrolled in the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP), registering to vote will be different for you. You can be a Protected Records Voter (PRV) and have your address information kept out of the VoteWA database. Call the ACP at 360-753-2972 and they will send you a form and help you stay safe.
What can I do if I am not eligible to vote?
Not everyone is able to vote. Many people, because of immigration status, age, criminal convictions, or other barriers, are left out of the voting process, even though the decisions being made directly impact their lives. But that doesn’t mean your voice doesn’t matter or that you can’t make a difference. There are many powerful ways to get involved in shaping the future, even if you can’t cast a ballot.
You can help educate and mobilize others who are eligible to vote—sharing information, engaging in conversations about the issues, or volunteering for voter registration drives can have a huge impact. You can also participate in community organizing, advocacy campaigns, or protests, which are critical ways to push for change. Local politics, like attending city council meetings or joining neighborhood coalitions, is another place where your input can be heard and can directly influence decisions that affect your community.
Using your voice in these ways is a form of power too. Whether it’s through storytelling, advocacy, or direct action, you have the ability to shape public opinion and inspire others to act. It’s not just about one vote—it’s about building momentum, creating connections, and working toward a society where everyone’s voice counts, no matter their voting status.
How To Get Involved Beyond the Ballot
Stay Informed
Knowledge is power. Keep yourself informed by reading and subscribing to trusted news outlets, fact-checking information, and signing up for newsletters or action alerts from organizations that focus on the issues you care about. You can also visit your local library to access resources or take the time to learn about the Constitution and the political system.
Build Community
Real change often starts close to home. You can volunteer at a local nonprofit, identify a specific concern in your community and rally your neighbors to address it, or even organize a community project, like painting a mural or starting a book club focused on social issues. Mentoring youth or simply getting to know your neighbors, especially those who are unhoused or marginalized, helps build a stronger, more connected community.
Participate
Your voice matters in local politics. Attend city and county council meetings to stay involved with what’s happening in your area. Share your concerns with elected officials and advocate for policies that reflect your community’s needs.
Get Social
Bring people together by hosting events like a watch party for debates or documentaries on important topics. Use these as a way to spark conversations. Be intentional about your purchases by supporting companies whose values align with yours. Share information about voting or important issues with friends and family to keep the momentum going.
“There’s really no such thing as the ‘voiceless’. There are only the deliberately silenced, or the preferably unheard.”
Arundhati Roy
I work for a nonprofit organization. Can I talk about voting with the community?
Nonprofits may conduct any type of Get Out The Vote activity to encourage people to vote as long as it is about participating as a voter and not suggesting who to vote for. As an employee at a 501(c)(3) organization, you CAN:
Conduct or Promote Voter Registration
- Conduct a voter registration drive at your organization or in your community.
- Encourage people to register to vote in your communications, on your website, or at events.
- Send reminders to your coworkers, friends, and community about voting in the next election and why voting is important.
Help a Survivor or Program Participant Vote
- Provide program participants with voter registration information, including deadlines and dates.
- Help a program participant register to vote online, by mail, or in person, or help them check online to see if they are registered.
- Help make voting more accessible for a program participant by helping them get a photo ID, register for the Washington State Address Confidentiality Program, or identify an address to have their ballot mailed to.
- Let program participants know that the decision about who to vote for and whether or not to vote is up to them. Participation does not affect any services they may receive, and even after they register to vote, they can change their mind.
Host a Candidate Forum
- Sponsor a candidate forum with other community partners for all the candidates on issues that are important to your organization
- Encourage program participants and community to attend your forum or another candidate forum sponsored by a trusted partner
Create a Candidate Questionnaire
- Submit questions to all the candidates in a race on issues that are important to your organization
- Publish the candidates’ full answers on your website or in a nonpartisan voter guide
Distribute Sample Ballots or Nonpartisan Voter Guides
- Display or provide an official sample ballot that highlights state elections common to all voters in your state
- Distribute a nonpartisan voter guide from trusted partner about what is on the ballot
Continue Issue Advocacy during an Election
- Continue your regular advocacy or lobbying activities during the election period, as long it is related to pending legislation on issues you have a history of working on and not timed or structured to influence how people vote
Support, Oppose or Host a Community Conversation on a Ballot Measure
- Unlike candidates for office, nonprofits may take sides on a ballot measure. IRS rules treat this as a lobbying activity, not electioneering
- Educate the public on your position within your normal lobbying limits
There is a lot you can do to promote and support voting in your community! But there are a few things you can’t do. As a 501(c)(3) organization, you CAN’T:
- Endorse a candidate
- Make a campaign contribution or expenditure for or against a candidate
- Rate or rank candidates on who is most favorable to your issue(s)
- Let candidates use your facilities or resources, unless they are made equally available to all candidates at their fair market value – such as a room commonly used for public events