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- Secure Elections and Voter Records - FAQ
How do I register to vote?
There are three ways to register to vote:
- Register online at VoteWA.gov. To register online, you must have a Washington State ID or Driver’s License.
- Mail in a registration form to: Pierce County Elections 2501 S. 35th St. C, Tacoma, WA 98409.
- In-person at the Pierce County Election Center.
Am I eligible to register to vote?
To register to vote, you must be:
- A citizen of the United States;
- A legal resident of Washington State;
- At least 18 years old (at least 16 for pre-registration)
- Not disqualified from voting due to a court order;
- Not currently serving a sentence of total confinement in prison under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections for a Washington felony conviction; and
- Not currently incarcerated for a federal or out-of-state felony conviction.
Are voter registration records accurate?
Washington’s voter registration system, VoteWA, is continuously updated by county election workers as well as the Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS). The OSOS works with the Social Security Administration, the Department of Licensing, the Department of Health, the Department of Corrections, and the Office of the Administrator of the Courts to improve the accuracy of voter registration data.
The OSOS regularly provides counties with lists of voters who need to be removed from the voter rolls. These lists included deceased voters, voters in custody of the Department of Corrections, or voters who may be registered in more than one county.
Additionally, Washington State is a member of ERIC (Electronic Records Information Center) that compares voter registration and motor vehicle license data across 31 other states. ERIC uses sophisticated data matching software. ERIC reports can detect when a voter is registered in another state or if they have voted in another state.
With all that said, we still rely on voters to keep their voter registration records updated. If you move or change your name, please contact 253-798-VOTE (8683) If a member of your household has died and a ballot is mailed to them, please mark the ballot as undeliverable and write “deceased” on the envelope. If a ballot is mailed to your home in the name of someone who doesn’t reside with you, please mark the ballot as undeliverable.
When is the deadline to register to vote?
The deadline to register to vote online or by mail is 8 days before the election.
The deadline to register in-person is on election day by 8 p.m.
Why is my voter registration listed as inactive?
Typically, voters are placed on inactive status when mail is returned undeliverable or we are notified that the voter has moved out of the county. In Washington State, voters can change from “Inactive” to “Active” status by simply contacting their county.
I have a primary residence in one state and a vacation home in another state. Can I register to vote in more than one location?
No. You may only register to vote in the state that you consider your permanent residence and where you physically reside.
You can add a seasonal address to your voter registration so that your ballot will get sent to you even if you are not currently staying at your primary address. Visit VoteWa.gov to add your seasonal address.
Is my voter registration coded by political party?
No. Voters don’t choose a political party when they register to vote in Washington State. Party preference is not recorded in the voter’s registration record. Ballots sent to voters are not coded by party. Voters are free to select any candidate during primary and general elections, regardless of party preference.
Presidential Primary: Every four years, the major political parties have a nominating process for US President. The parties can choose to nominate by caucus or hold an election with ballots. When the parties nominate by election, counties are required to mail and process ballots by political affiliation. This is the only election in which Washington’s voters are required to mark and sign party declarations written by the major political parties. The party choice does not affect how voters make choices in Washington’s other regular elections. The office of the Secretary of State is required to deliver election results to each major political party, including the party choice of participating voters. Once the election results have been transmitted, the voter’s party choice is removed from the voter’s file.
You do not have to participate in the presidential Primary. You will still be able to vote in the regular General and Primary Election.
My child/spouse has moved out. Can I cancel/update their voter registration on their behalf?
We rely on voters to keep their registration records up to date. Unless they are deceased, it’s the voter that needs to cancel their voter registration or update their new address. Election officials must hear directly from the voter in order to change the record.
Do people have to prove U.S. Citizenship when they register to vote?
To register to vote in Washington State, people must provide some form of identification – most commonly their Washington state driver’s license or ID, or the last four digits of their Social Security number – and attest in a signed statement that they are a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote. A person who submits false citizenship on their voter registration application or votes as a non-citizen is guilty of a class C felony. This is clearly stated on all registration forms, and on every ballot envelope. Voters confirm their eligibility to vote in every election by signing the ballot declaration. If a person illegally registers and votes, they also jeopardize attaining citizenship in the future.
Per state law, election officials may not verify citizenship when they receive a voter’s registration, and there exists no official list of citizens to check citizenship status against. If the required information for voter registration is included – name; address; date of birth; a signature attesting to the truth of the information provided on the application; and an indication in the box confirming the individual is a U.S. citizen – the person must be added to the voter registration file. Modifying state law would require an act of the state legislature, and federal law an act of Congress. The Secretary of State does not have lawmaking authority.
While state law does not provide for citizenship verification upon registration, it does allow a local challenge of a voter registration, which can be brought by any person or the county prosecutor. The burden of proof lies with the challenger, and evidence must be presented to the county canvassing board for review. Learn more about the challenge process here. (RCW 29A.08.810 through 29A.08.850)
Additionally, the Washington State Department of Licensing has implemented federally compliant REAL ID for enhanced driver’s license and identicards. People applying for an enhanced license must present citizenship verification. This type of license will soon be required in order to travel by air and will provide election administrators an additional assurance to verify citizenship for registered voters.
Are Felons allowed to vote?
If you were convicted of a felony in a Washington State court, your right to vote is restored automatically once you are no longer serving a sentence of total confinement.
If you were convicted of a felony in another state or in federal court, your right to vote is restored automatically as long as you are not currently incarcerated for that felony.
You do not lose the right to vote for a misdemeanor conviction or a conviction in juvenile court.
You do not need a certificate of discharge (COD) to have your voting rights restored.
You are not required to completely pay off your fines, restitution, or other legal financial obligations (LFOs) before you register to vote.
The OSOS match Department of Correction records to voter registration records. Convicted felons who are serving a sentence of total confinement under the control of the Department of Corrections are pended and given written notice before their voter registration is cancelled.
It is a felony crime for a convicted felon under DOC control to attempt to vote. It is punishable by five years of imprisonment and / or $10,000 fine.
How can I report the death of a loved one and cancel their registration?
Cancel the registration of a deceased voter by printing, signing and returning our voter registration cancellation form for a deceased voter or call us at 253-798-VOTE (8683) and we will mail you a form.
How can I cancel my registration?
To cancel your Washington State voter registration, we will need you to fill out and sign a voter cancelation form. Give us a call at 253-798-VOTE (8683) and we will mail you a cancelation form.
How can I return my ballot?
You can return your ballot by mail or by drop box anytime during the 18-day voting period.
If you return your ballot by mail, you will want to make sure it is postmarked by election day. No stamp required.
Ballot drop boxes are open 24/7 during the 18 day voting period. Click here to find a drop box near you. Make sure you return your ballot to a drop box by 8 p.m. on election day. No stamp required.
Don’t forget to sign your return envelope before returning your ballot!
Can I vote at a polling place?
Washington became a vote-by-mail state in 2011. We offer in-person assistance, but Washington no longer has polling places.
Anyone who comes to the election center to vote in-person will be handed a copy of the same ballot previously mailed. There is a drop box in the election center that you can drop the return ballot envelope in to.
You can deliver your ballot directly to the election center via a ballot drop box. We have 50 ballot drop box locations in Pierce County. Chances are good that one is within two miles of your home! Ballot drop boxes are monitored and collected by professional nonpartisan election workers with tight oversight.
Pierce County Libraries are points of assistance on election day only. You can register to vote, get a replacement ballot, or drop off your ballot.
Can I verify that my ballot was received by the election center?
Yes. Sign in to VoteWA.gov with your name and birthday. Click the tab that says “ballot status”. This page will show you the day your ballot was sent, the day it was received, and the status of your ballot (accepted or challenged).
Why did I receive two ballots?
You may receive an updated ballot because your residential address or name changed after the initial ballot mailing. Sometimes this happens when you interact with the Department of Licensing for drivers’ licensing services or if you have moved to a new address.
If you receive two ballots, please open both packets. One should have an insert indicating it is a “Replacement/Reissued Ballot.” Please vote and return the replacement ballot. It has the correct races and precinct information for your new address and the initial ballot is suspended.
If you make a mistake and vote the initial ballot, the elections office will simply hold it and ensure that you don’t submit the replacement ballot as well. If the replacement ballot isn’t received, your initial ballot will be counted.
I received a ballot for another person. How does that happen?
We rely on voters to keep their registration records up to date. A previous occupant or family member may have failed to update their voter registration or tell us that they’ve moved. Please mark the ballot as undeliverable and return via the USPS.
When we receive mail that is undeliverable, we will inactivate the voter in our voter registration system. Voters can activate their registration again by simply giving us a call at 253-798-VOTE (8683) with updated voter information.
I lost my ballot. Can I get a new one?
Yes. You can call us at 253-798-VOTE (8683) and we will mail you a new ballot packet. If it is close to election day, we recommend you come into the election center and we will hand you a new ballot packet.
Alternatively, you can print a replacement ballot online at VoteWA.gov. Login with your name and birthday and select “online ballot”.
When you print/request a replacement ballot, the original ballot sent to you will be suspended.
When do ballot drop boxes open?
Drop boxes are open 24 hours a day during the 18 day voting period. They close promptly at 8 p.m. on election night. Find the closest drop box here.
Is it safe to mail my ballot using USPS?
Yes. If you’re an early voter, you should feel confident to return your ballot by mail. Postal carriers are reliable, unbiased professionals who handle ballots with the upmost integrity. Your ballot is treated as 1st class mail. It’s postage-paid. No need to apply a stamp.
Ballots must be postmarked on or before election day. Alternatively, you can return your ballot to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on election day. Find the closest ballot drop box here.
Why was my ballot challenged?
If your ballot was challenged, the elections department will reach out to you.
Ballots typically get challenged because your signature on your return envelope didn’t match what we have on your voter registration or there was no signature at all. Click here to update your signature.
Challenged ballots have until the day before certification to be cured with the proper form.
Where can I find election results?
Election results can be found at PierceCountyElections.org. Election night results are typically posted at about 8:15 p.m. Results will be updated as we process ballots until certification.
Why did I receive a voter pamphlet, but no ballot?
The Voter pamphlets and Ballots are mailed separately. The Voter’s pamphlet is mailed about 3 weeks prior to the election and ballots are mailed about 2 weeks prior to the election.
Voter pamphlets are mailed to all households in Pierce County, regardless of voter registration. However, ballots are only mailed to registered voters at specific addresses.
Often times there will be TWO voters’ pamphlets. A Washington State pamphlet containing statewide and federal offices and measures, and a local voters’ pamphlet for local offices and measures. Both pamphlets are available online at PierceCountyElections.org
How does the elections department process my ballot securely?
Click here to view ballot process chart.
After you return your voted ballot:
- Your signature on the outer return envelope is checked against the signature on file in your voter registration record. If it matches, you are credited for voting. This ensures that only one ballot from each voter is counted.
- The outer return envelope, which identifies you, is separated from the inner security sleeve, which contains your voted ballot. Your ballot cannot be traced back to you.
- Once the ballots are separated from the security sleeves, they are reviewed for potential scanning issues. If there is damage to the ballot, the ballot is remade by a team of two and the original ballot is retained so that it can be referenced if needed.
- Ballots are scanned and securely stored.
Are there observers at ballot counting to ensure there is no bias?
Our work is monitored on-site by observers appointed by the Republican and Democratic parties. The League of Women Voters also has on-site observers representing the interests of unaffiliated voters.
Visitors may come to the election center to view the process from the observation corridor.
What kind of regular audits are in place?
Pierce County Elections conducts pre and post audits during each election.
- A Logic and Accuracy test is conducted on our tabulation system before each election to ensure the accuracy of our vote counting equipment.
- We conduct a post-election batch audit. The audit compares a manual count of ballots to the machine count for randomly selected batches.
Is our election system secure from cyberattack?
The Washington State elections system has a layered defense to protect against both unintentional error and malicious actors seeking to interfere with election results. Security has many elements including physical and cybersecurity processes.
Paper ballots distributed, controlled, tallied and secured at the county level provide a hard-copy backup of all election results. This hard-copy paper trail makes tampering with votes at the ballot box very difficult.
The county computer tabulation system is located in a locked room with access limited to a few credentialed election administrators. The tabulation system is never connected to the internet and can’t be penetrated by Wi-Fi or cellular devices.
Tallied results are reported and displayed on the Secretary of State’s VoteWA election management system.
Pre and post election audits as well as statutory required recounts for close races ensures and authenticates final election results.
Washington’s voter registration and election management system (VoteWA) is maintained and protected by Washington State’s Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS). The office has a robust Security Operations Center (SOC), which addresses cyber vulnerabilities with a team of cyber experts solely dedicated to the health of the state’s election systems. The SOC regularly reviews state and county voting equipment and computer systems for security vulnerabilities. The team is also tasked with ensuring county equipment meet current standards.
The Office of the Secretary of State has sensors to monitor threat activity on state and county systems. All 39 counties have “Albert sensors” installed. Security Information and Event Management Software (SIEM) allows the SOC to detect attempted unauthorized access into state and county networks.
In addition to monitoring for possible threats and intrusions, the SOC maintains technology replacement schedule to prevent vulnerable and end-of-life products from being used. The SOC also ensures state and county systems are patched with current releases.
The Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS) has significant firewalls to protect VoteWA from outside threats. In addition, OSOS ensures all access to centralized elections systems requires multi-factor authentication.
What is an Albert Sensor?
Albert sensors were developed by the MS-ISAC in cooperation with the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The Albert Sensor provides network security for both traditional and advanced network threats, helping organizations identify malicious activity. This Intrusion Detection System (IDS) uses open-source software combined with the expertise of the CIS’s security Operations Center (SOC) to provide enhanced monitoring capabilities and notifications of malicious activity.
The Albert sensor is not a firewall. The sensor passively monitors network data traffic (“NetFlow” or metadata about network traffic); it does not block traffic and cannot negatively affect a network or modify the data traversing the network in any way. It monitors traffic as it flows across the network to look for matches against a set of threat signatures. If a match is found, an alert is sent for analysis and, if warranted, escalation. Albert cannot change data, nor does it monitor or record the contents of the data. Albert simply watches the traffic. It does nothing with “normal” traffic once it is determined to be non-malicious.
Albert does not monitor voting and tabulation systems, which are not connected to the internet. However, malicious data can still cause problems with an office’s operations; Albert simply helps detect and prevent that threat.
The Albert Sensor installed with Pierce County is configured to monitor 2 networks. One is the County as a whole and the other is just the Auditor assigned networks IP’s.
Can the election be rigged?
Washington State uses paper ballots. For elections in Pierce County, there are 730 precincts which result in many different ballot styles. Any attempt to replicate or submit ballots would require a criminal to know the exact ballot type associated with each voter, the ability to forge individual signatures, and the ability to predict that the targeted registered voter wouldn’t cast a bona fide ballot.
Elections are managed by nonpartisan, professional, certified election officials. Audits, independent observation, and segregation of duties would not allow “rigging” to go undetected.
While ballots are being handled, work is monitored on site by observers appointed by the Republican and Democratic parties. The League of Women Voters also has on-site observers representing the interests of unaffiliated voters.
The Logic and Accuracy test, post-election audit, and any required recounts all verify the accuracy and integrity of our tabulation system.
A report from the University of California Los Angeles and the University of New Mexico found that vote by mail does not increase voter fraud.
There are very low rates of fraud in Vote by Mail states, as summarized by the Brookings Institute.
Why do vote totals change and races "flip" in the days following the election?
Ballots are mailed 18 days before the election, which means you are able to return your ballot at any time during this 18-day period. On average, only 50% of voters return their ballot during this 18-day voting period, meaning many of the ballots are returned on election day and are not included in the election day results post, as they still need to be processed. We also are waiting on ballots that have been sent in the mail or challenged ballots that need to be cured. It is possible that some races may change in the following days, as the remaining ballots are received and counted. Races can widen, narrow or flip. This is normal and well within ranges or statistical probability.
What do election officials do to ensure deceased individuals are not voting?
Each month, the Office of the Secretary of State receives a list of deceased people from the Department of Health, as well as the Social Security Administration. These lists are compared to the voter registration list and potential matches are flagged for research by the County Auditor’s offices. County Auditors may also remove registrations of deceased person using published obituaries or written notices from relatives.
How do election officials prevent someone from voting twice?
When a ballot is returned to the election center, we compare the signature on the ballot to the signature on their voter registration. If the signature matches, you are credited for voting in our voter registration system, VoteWA, and will not be able to cast another ballot in that election.
VoteWA is continuously updated by county election workers as well as the Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS). The OSOS works with the Social Security Administration, the Department of Licensing, the Department of Health, the Department of Corrections, and the Office of the Administrator of the Courts to improve the accuracy of voter registration data.
The OSOS regularly provides counties with lists of voters who need to be removed from the voter rolls. These lists included deceased voters, voters serving a sentence of total confinement, or voters who may be registered in more than one county.
Additionally, Washington State is a member of ERIC (Electronic Records Information Center) that compares voter registration and motor vehicle license data across 31 other states. ERIC uses sophisticated data matching software. ERIC reports can detect when a voter is registered in another state or if they have voted in another state.
Are ballot drop boxes secure?
Yes. Drop boxes are a secure, convenient way for voters to return their ballot.
They are open 24 hours a day for the entire 18 day voting period. Ballots are collected at least every 48 hours and often several times per day. They are securely locked and closed with tamper-evident seals. Two employees who have undergone background checks must be present at all times for ballot collection. Drop box collection teams are actively supervised by election managers using GPS tracking and photographic evidence.
Ballots are transported directly to the election center in sealed containers.
Do people have to prove U.S. Citizenship when they register to vote?
To register to vote in Washington State, people must provide some form of identification – most commonly their Washington state driver’s license or ID, or the last four digits of their Social Security number – and attest in a signed statement that they are a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote. A person who submits false citizenship on their voter registration application or votes as a non-citizen is guilty of a class C felony. This is clearly stated on all registration forms, and on every ballot envelope. Voters confirm their eligibility to vote in every election by signing the ballot declaration. If a person illegally registers and votes, they also jeopardize attaining citizenship in the future.
Per state law, election officials may not verify citizenship when they receive a voter’s registration, and there exists no official list of citizens to check citizenship status against. If the required information for voter registration is included – name; address; date of birth; a signature attesting to the truth of the information provided on the application; and an indication in the box confirming the individual is a U.S. citizen – the person must be added to the voter registration file. Modifying state law would require an act of the state legislature, and federal law an act of Congress. The Secretary of State does not have lawmaking authority.
While state law does not provide for citizenship verification upon registration, it does allow a local challenge of a voter registration, which can be brought by any person or the county prosecutor. The burden of proof lies with the challenger, and evidence must be presented to the county canvassing board for review. Learn more about the challenge process here. (RCW 29A.08.810 through 29A.08.850)
Additionally, the Washington State Department of Licensing has implemented federally compliant REAL ID for enhanced driver’s license and identicards. People applying for an enhanced license must present citizenship verification. This type of license will soon be required in order to travel by air and will provide election administrators an additional assurance to verify citizenship for registered voters.