Registering to vote in Washington if you are houseless

Last updated: July 19, 2021

People who are houseless have the right to vote, but face practical obstacles when trying to do so. Understanding these obstacles is key to securing voting rights for the houseless here in Washington.

Residency and Mailing Address Requirements.

Washingtonians must provide both their residential and mailing address on their voter registration form. For the houseless, these two addresses are likely to be different. For a houseless person, their residence might be a street corner, park, shelter or other identifiable location where the person typically stays at night.

A houseless person’s mailing address may be any place where the person can pick up their mail. It can be a shelter, friend or relative’s house or other location willing to accept mail for that person. Or it can be a post office box or even general delivery at a local post office. A person’s mailing address need not be in the same precinct as the person’s residential address.

Identification Issues

Federal law requires first-time voter registrants to indicate an identification number on their registration form. Usually, this will be a driver’s license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their social security number.

If a person lacks any such form of ID, the person is still permitted to register, but they will not be permitted to vote until they provide an alternate form of ID to their county elections department.

Alternative ID forms include a passport, employee ID, student ID, military ID, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck and out-of-state driver’s license. A copy of this ID must be sent to the local county’s Auditor’s Office or provided there in person.

For online registration at VoteWA.gov, a driver’s license or state ID number is required. People who do not have these can still register in-person at their county election office.

Voting in the current election (the August 2021 primary)

July 26 is the last day to register online, and for mailed registrations or updates. You can register online at vote.wa.gov using a smartphone or a computer. You can register in-person at your county election office. Voter registration forms are available online in multiple languages.

August 3 is Election Day

• Register or update info and vote in person by 8 p.m.
• Mailed ballot must be postmarked by today
• Official ballot drop boxes are open until 8 p.m

Here is a map of official ballot drop boxes and in-person voting centers.

If you need a replacement ballot, you can get one in-person at your county election office or print one out at vote.wa.gov.