When it comes to casting ballots, folks in Washington state might not know how good they’ve got it.

In Washington, voter registration can be done online, by mail, or in person, the latter of which can occur before 8 p.m. on Election Day. This makes Washington one of 22 states (plus the District of Columbia) where you can register to vote and cast your vote on the same day.

Those who register to vote before Election Day will receive their ballots by mail. Ballots can be dropped off at any ballot box by 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can also mail your ballot; it must be postmarked by Election Day.

There are about 600 ballot boxes statewide. At some ballot boxes—such as the one at the Lynnwood Library—you can drive up to the box and drop off your ballot without exiting your vehicle.

Our voting process is convenient and hassle-free, a far cry from other states’ Election Day. 

In Florida’s 2012 election, voters complained of standing in line for up to seven hours to vote.

In Virginia’s 2020 election, supporters of one candidate tried to disrupt voting by chanting and waving flags. They formed a line at the polling center so long that voters had to walk around it to cast their ballots.

And in Arizona’s 2022 election, poll watchers showed up at polling stations armed and wearing ballistic vests. Some voters complained that poll watchers took pictures of license plates.

Our easy, convenient voting process should free Washington state of voter apathy and generate large turnouts for each election–local, statewide, and national. 

Yet Amanda Sandoval, United Way of King County’s director of systems change and public policy, said that during the most recent non-presidential election year (2023), just 36% of registered voters cast ballots. During the most recent presidential year (2020), about 84% of registered voters cast ballots for the general election, but less than 16% of voters cast ballots for the primary.

“What people don’t realize is that you have to get past the primary to get to the general election,” Sandoval said. “And during the non-presidential election year, the majority of the 36% of voters who cast ballots were white. The lowest percentage of voters, regardless of election year, are Black and Latino—which are 15% and 18%, respectively.

“Voting every year and voting in every election is important and directly affects us,” Sandoval continued. “We vote for who represents us at the local, county, and state level. We vote for what taxes we pay, what is taught in our children’s schools, and what types of benefits we get.”

We at United Way of King County encourage everyone to become more civically engaged.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we cannot tell you for whom or what to vote. However, we can offer information about the issues and the voting process leading up to November’s general election.

Voting every year and voting in every election is important and directly affects us.

United Way of King County’s director of systems change and public policy

That’s why, beginning in September, we will launch a three-part series on civic engagement. Our blog posts and Hourglass podcast will feature information about issues affecting voters.

In September, we will talk about Get Out to Vote efforts.

 In October, we will discuss the three statewide ballot initiatives and what is at stake if they are passed or repealed.

In November, we will discuss democracy outside the ballot box—how those who cannot vote can still be civically engaged.

“In addition to the three statewide ballot initiatives, each county and each city has its own levies to vote on,” Sandoval said. “In the City of Seattle, for example, there is a big transportation levy on the ballot. Everyone is voting for the next superintendent of public instruction. That affects every single person who has a child in school.

“And we tell people that there is a way to be involved outside of voting,” Sandoval added. “We tell people that you are a messenger, specifically in communities of color and immigrant and refugee communities. People trust others in their community, and those are communities that historically don’t really vote. Being able to encourage people [to be civically engaged] is a huge thing.”

Check out our Get Out the Vote series, which will begin next month!