Washington Overseas Voting Guide
If Washington is your last U.S. residence, this is where your ballot comes from — no matter what country you live in now, and however long you have been away. The deadlines below are for the November 3, 2026 federal general election.
Washington deadlines at a glance
Washington deadlines at a glance
Election Day
Nov 3, 2026
Register to vote
PassedDeadline
Nov 3, 2026
at 8 PM Washington time
Received by Nov 3, 2026 at 8 PM Washington time.
Request your ballot
PassedNot requiredReturn your voted ballot
PassedSee the rules ↓Fastest — email
Nov 3, 2026
at 8 PM Washington time
By email, received by
Latest — post
Nov 3, 2026
+20 days to arrivePostmarked by
These dates and process details come from the Federal Voting Assistance Program's 2026–27 Voting Assistance Guide, the U.S. Department of Defense's official source for Washington. One deadline below was checked against the Washington Secretary of State's page for military and overseas voters and differs from the federal guide. Deadlines can change after it is published, so confirm anything you are close to with your local election official.
Registering and requesting your ballot
Request your Washington ballot
One federal form registers you and requests your absentee ballot. Overseas voters file it again every election year, even if you voted last time.
Washington does not require an ID number on the form.
Receiving your ballot
Once Washington accepts your form, it sends you your ballot. Federal law required states to send ballots to overseas voters by September 19, 2026 for requests already on file. A request made now is sent once it is processed.
Still waiting for your ballot?
Let us know. We track delivery issues and raise them with election officials.
Returning your Washington ballot
Washington accepts a voted ballot by email or fax, as well as by post. Sending it that way skips international mail, which can take several weeks each way. Both are accepted — the options are below.
Return your ballot according to the instructions that came with it — the envelopes, the signature and any witness or ID requirement are set by your state. If anything is missing or you are not sure what they want, your local election official is the person to ask.
4 ways to return it — choose one
Scan or photograph your voted ballot and any forms in your packet, and email them to your election office. The address and any cover sheet come with your ballot.
By email, received by Nov 3, 2026 at 8 PM Washington time
Fax
FastestFax your voted ballot and any forms in your packet to your election office. The number comes with your ballot.
Fax it yourself: a commercial online fax service, such as Dropbox Fax, sends a PDF from your phone or computer.
Emailed your ballot to FVAP in a past election? That service ended in August 2025. Emails to its old address still go through, but nothing is faxed.
By fax, received by Nov 3, 2026 at 8 PM Washington time
Post
Post your voted ballot in the return envelope from your packet. International postage from your country applies, and delivery takes two to three weeks from most places.
Postmarked by Nov 3, 2026
It must still arrive within 20 days of Election Day.
By courier — DHL, FedEx or UPS
Faster, costs moreA courier takes a few days instead of a few weeks and gives you tracking. It costs more than international postage, and how much depends on the country you are sending from.
Same deadlines as returning by post:
Postmarked by Nov 3, 2026
It must still arrive within 20 days of Election Day.
After you send it
- Check it arrived
Log in, then open the “Your Ballot & Voting Materials” tab.
- If there is a problem
- If there is a problem with your signature, your county will contact you. The deadline to fix it is November 23, 2026.
From the Washington Secretary of State's office and Washington's published election rules, September 2026.
Additional resources
The official places to check your ballot, reach the office that handles it, and read the rules in full.
Washington overseas voting questions
What is the Washington ballot deadline for overseas voters?
As early as November 3, 2026 at 8 PM Washington time. Varies by how you send it.
What if my Washington ballot has not arrived?
If your ballot has not arrived and your deadline is close, the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is the federal backup ballot. You can fill it in for federal offices and send it now; if your real ballot turns up later, complete and return that too — only one of them is counted. In Washington, the backup ballot can also register you to vote, though registration deadlines may fall earlier than ballot deadlines.
Can I email or fax my ballot back in Washington?
Yes. Washington accepts a voted ballot by email, fax or post.
Can I still email my Washington ballot to fax@fvap.gov?
No. The Federal Voting Assistance Program ended that email-to-fax service in August 2025. Emails to the address still go through without an error, but nothing is faxed to your election office. If you fax, send it to the office yourself: a commercial online fax service, such as Dropbox Fax, sends a PDF from your phone or computer.
When is the Washington registration deadline for overseas voters?
Received by November 3, 2026 at 8 PM Washington time.
How do I check that my Washington ballot was counted?
Washington offers an online ballot-status lookup where you can check that your ballot was sent and that your voted ballot came back. The link is under Additional resources on this page.
What if there is a problem with my returned Washington ballot?
If there is a problem with your signature, your county will contact you. The deadline to fix it is November 23, 2026.
Who is my local election official in Washington?
Your local election official is the county or municipal office that handles registration and ballots for your last U.S. address in Washington. You can look up their contact details on our election-office finder.
More questions?
Our team answers questions from overseas voters every day. Ask us anything this page did not cover.
Ready to request your Washington ballot?
One form registers you and requests your ballot.