Voting is one way to use your voice and help shape the decisions that affect our lives and communities.
We know that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault can face barriers to voting. Concerns about safety and privacy, housing instability, disability, or other circumstances can make the voting process harder to navigate. This guide has information to help survivors and advocates understand how voting works in Washington, make a voting plan, and find support if they need it.
For advocates: You can help make voting more accessible by sharing accurate information, helping survivors understand their options, and supporting them in making their own choices. Every person deserves the opportunity to participate and have a say in the decisions that affect their community.
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 three people in your community before election day on November 3, 2026!
Voting is important, and we can make an even bigger impact by helping others participate, too. Talk with coworkers, volunteers, board members, clients, friends, and family about voting. Share trusted information, help people register or make a voting plan, and encourage people in your community to make their voices heard.
Voter engagement helps bring the issues our communities care about into election conversations and public policy decisions, and supports our work toward a world free from violence.
Your 2026 Voting Guide
Download the Coalitions’ 2026 Voter Guide for key election dates, voting information, survivor-specific resources, and ways to get involved.
Key Dates for the 2026 General Election
- 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. Register to vote in person during business hours and any time before 8:00 pm on Election Day.
- November 3: Last day to register to vote or update your voter registration (in person only).
- November 3: 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 Washington State resident;
- At least 18 years old by election day;
- Not currently serving a sentence in prison for a felony conviction; and
- Not disqualified from voting due to a court order (e.g., some guardianships).
Voting Resources
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.
Washington Election Protection: Have a question or problem with voting? Get nonpartisan help with voter registration, ballots, voting rights, and other voting issues.
Nonprofit VOTE Voter Engagement Guide: Practical tools and guidance for nonprofits doing nonpartisan voter registration, voter education, and Get Out the Vote activities.
Voter Registration FAQ
Does Washington have automatic voter registration?
Yes, in some situations. For example, eligible Washington residents who get an enhanced driver’s license or enhanced ID are automatically registered to vote.
If you aren’t automatically registered, you can register online at VoteWA.gov. You can also register in person at your local county elections office. Check your registration status online at VoteWA.gov.
Do I need to go somewhere in person to vote on election day?
No. Washington state is a vote by mail state, so registered voters are automatically mailed a ballot.
You can return your completed ballot to an official drop box or by mail (no stamp needed). If you mail your ballot, election officials recomment mailing it more than a week before Election Day. After that, use a ballot drop box. Drop boxes close at 8:00 pm on Election Day.
I left the county where I’m registered because of safety concerns. How can I get my ballot?
If you need your ballot sent to a different address or need a replacement ballot, visit VoteWA.gov or contact the elections office in the county where you are registered.
If Election Day is getting close, contact your county elections office to find out the best way to receive or replace your ballot.
Do you need an ID to register to vote in Washington?
You do not need to show an ID just to fill out a voter registration form.
To register online, you can use a current Washington driver’s license, permit or state ID, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. You can also register by mail or in person at your county elections office.
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 8:00 pm on November 3 to register and vote.
The deadline to register online or by mail is October 26. After that, you’ll need to register in person.
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 another identifiable place where you stay. This location helps determine which races and measures appear on your ballot.
You’ll also need to provide a mailing address where you can receive your ballot. This could be a shelter, the address of a friend or relative, or general delivery at a post office.
Can I vote if I have a felony conviction?
Yes, if you are no longer in prison for a felony conviction. Your voting rights are restored when you are released from prison, but you’ll need to register again before you can vote.
If you were registered before you were incarcerated, you still need to re-register.
I am from Washington, but I’m attending college in another state. Where do I vote?
You can choose whether to remain registered at your permanent Washington address or register where you currently live. You cannot vote in both places.
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.
I have a disability. What accessible voting options are available?
Voters with disabilities have the right to reasonable accommodations and assistance with voting. Accessible voting equipment is also available at voting centers.
Learn more about accessible voting from the Secretary of State or contact your county elections office for assistance.
What about safety and confidentiality for survivors of domestic violence?
Some voter registration information can be disclosed publicly. If you are concerned that someone could use public records to find you, Washington’s Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) may be an option.
ACP provides eligible survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking with a substitute address that can be used with state and local government agencies. It also provides a special confidential voter registration process.
I am enrolled in the Address Confidentiality Program. How do I vote?
If you’re enrolled in ACP, do not register to vote through VoteWA. ACP participants use a special registration process to become a Protected Records Voter (PRV), which keeps identifying information out of the public voter record.
Call ACP at 360-753-2972 to request the correct voter registration form and get help with the process.
What can I do if I am not eligible to vote?
Not everyone is eligible to vote, but voting isn’t the only way to have a voice in your community. You can contact elected officials, participate in advocacy, volunteer, share reliable information, and help eligible voters participate. See more ways to get involved beyond the ballot below.
How To Get Involved Beyond the Ballot
Voting is one way to participate in your community, but it’s not the only way. Whether or not you’re eligible to vote, there are many ways to get involved.
Stay Informed
Follow trusted news sources and organizations working on issues you care about. Sign up for newsletters or action alerts to learn about opportunities to take action.
Speak up
Contact your elected officials, attend local government meetings, and share your perspective on decisions that affect your community.
Get involved
Volunteer with a local organization, join a community group, or participate in advocacy around an issue that matters to you.
Talk with others
Share reliable information with friends, family, and neighbors. Help eligible voters find voting information, register, or make a plan to vote.
I work for a nonprofit organization. Can I talk about voting with the community?
Yes! 501(c)(3) nonprofits can help people register, vote, and learn about elections, as long as their voter engagement activities are nonpartisan. Your organization cannot support or oppose candidates or political parties, but there is still a lot you can do.
You CAN:
Help people register and vote
- Hold or promote voter registration drives.
- Share election dates, deadlines, and trusted voting information.
- Remind your community to vote and help people make a voting plan.
Help survivors and program participants
- Help someone register, check their registration, or find voting information.
- Help someone identify a safe mailing address or learn about voting through the Address Confidentiality Program.
- Make clear that voting is always their choice and does not affect the services they receive.
Share nonpartisan election information
- Share official sample ballots and trusted nonpartisan voter guides.
- Host a nonpartisan candidate forum or share information about one.
- Send the same questions to candidates in a race and publish their complete responses without rating or ranking them.
- Candidate forums and questionnaires need to be structured fairly and without favoring or opposing candidates.
Continue advocating on issues
- Continue your organization’s regular issue advocacy during an election.
- Take a position on a ballot measure and educate the public about your position, within your organization’s lobbying limits.
- The rules for ballot measures are different from the rules for candidates. The IRS treats efforts to support or oppose ballot measures as lobbying rather than prohibited candidate campaign activity.
You CAN’T:
As a 501(c)(3) organization, you cannot:
- Endorse or oppose a candidate for public office.
- Contribute to or spend money supporting or opposing a candidate.
- Rank or rate candidates based on your organization’s positions.
- Conduct voter engagement in a way designed to favor or oppose a candidate or political party.
- Give a candidate access to your organization’s facilities or resources on terms that aren’t equally available to other candidates in the same race.
Want more guidance? Check out Nonprofit VOTE’s voter engagement resources for practical information about nonpartisan voter engagement.
What’s on Your Ballot?
This November, Washington voters will choose candidates for federal, state, and local offices. Depending on where you live, you may also see local measures on your ballot.
Every Washington voter will also have three statewide initiatives on their ballot. You can find official information about the candidates and measures on your ballot at VoteWA.gov.
Where the Coalition Stands
The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault has taken a position on all three statewide initiatives.
The Coalition is asking Washington voters to vote NO on I-001, I-638, and I-645.
I-001 — Public Schools & Student Safety
What would it do?
I-001 would restore an earlier version of the state’s Parents’ Bill of Rights, giving parents broader access to some student records and information.
Why does the Coalition oppose it?
The Coalition believes young people need access to safe adults and support—including when home may not be a safe place. We oppose policies that could make it harder for vulnerable or abused students to seek help at school and find safety.
Learn more about I-001: No Hate in Washington State Campaign
I-638 — Trans Students & School Sports
What would it do?
I-638 would create new eligibility requirements for girls’ school sports. Students participating on girls’ teams would be required to receive genital exams or genetic testing to verify their biological sex. Girls unable to meet the requirement would be barred from playing.
Why does the Coalition oppose it?
We believe decisions about youth sports should protect young people’s safety, dignity, and access to positive school activities. I-638 creates unnecessary, invasive, and inaccessible requirements for students in order to exclude transgender girls from girls’ sports.
Learn more about I-638: No Hate in Washington State Campaign
I-645 — Funding for Public Services
What would it do?
In 2026, Washington passed a new 9.9% tax on annual individual income over $1 million.
I-645 would repeal that tax and prohibit state and local governments from imposing taxes on individual income. The state’s official ballot disclosure says the initiative would decrease funding for public K–12 schools, higher education, and human services, primarily healthcare.
Why does the Coalition oppose it?
Washington’s tax system asks more from people with the least: households with the lowest incomes pay about 14% of their income in state and local taxes, while the wealthiest 1% pay about 4%.
Survivors and their families rely on strong public services and community resources. Washington is already facing serious funding challenges. The state’s fiscal analysis estimates that I-645 would reduce state revenue by about $11.4 billion through 2031.
At a time when communities across Washington need more resources—not fewer—we believe our state should protect investments in education, healthcare, human services, and other essential services.
Learn more about I-645: About the Washington State Millionaires’ Tax