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Tuesday, Feb 03, 2026
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Washington State Approaches Key Deadlines Ahead of February 10 Special Election
Voters must register, return ballots and update registrations as the state prepares for local measures and ballot returns in early February
With the February 10 special election less than two weeks away, Washington state election officials are urging eligible voters to meet a series of critical deadlines to ensure their participation.
This election, which will be conducted primarily by mail, includes a range of local ballot measures and levies affecting school districts and other community services across more than three dozen counties.
The Secretary of State’s office has outlined a schedule of deadlines that voters should heed as the election nears.
Voters expecting to participate by mail should have received their ballots beginning January 23, when county election offices were required to begin mailing out ballots to registered voters eligible for the special election.
Ballots for military and overseas voters were sent earlier to comply with federal timelines established for overseas voting.
All ballots must be postmarked by February 10 to be counted.
In addition, official ballot drop boxes will remain open until 8 p.m. on Election Day for in-person ballots to be deposited.
For residents who are not yet registered or who need to update their registration information, February 2 is the deadline for online and mail-in registration updates to be received.
After that date, voters may still register or update their address in person at a county voting center through 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Same-day and in-person registration options provide a pathway for last-minute voters who missed earlier deadlines and wish to cast a ballot on February 10.
The variety of measures on the ballot reflects local priorities, with many school districts across Southwest Washington proposing levies to fund education programmes and operational expenses.
Voters in jurisdictions such as San Juan County have already been reminded to use official drop boxes or contact local election offices for replacement ballots if theirs have not arrived.
The state’s election calendar also shows that county canvassing boards will certify official results following Election Day, with certification expected by February 20. As Washington prepares for this special election, officials continue to encourage participation and provide resources through VoteWA.gov to help voters confirm registration status, find drop box locations and review precinct-specific ballot items.
This election, which will be conducted primarily by mail, includes a range of local ballot measures and levies affecting school districts and other community services across more than three dozen counties.
The Secretary of State’s office has outlined a schedule of deadlines that voters should heed as the election nears.
Voters expecting to participate by mail should have received their ballots beginning January 23, when county election offices were required to begin mailing out ballots to registered voters eligible for the special election.
Ballots for military and overseas voters were sent earlier to comply with federal timelines established for overseas voting.
All ballots must be postmarked by February 10 to be counted.
In addition, official ballot drop boxes will remain open until 8 p.m. on Election Day for in-person ballots to be deposited.
For residents who are not yet registered or who need to update their registration information, February 2 is the deadline for online and mail-in registration updates to be received.
After that date, voters may still register or update their address in person at a county voting center through 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Same-day and in-person registration options provide a pathway for last-minute voters who missed earlier deadlines and wish to cast a ballot on February 10.
The variety of measures on the ballot reflects local priorities, with many school districts across Southwest Washington proposing levies to fund education programmes and operational expenses.
Voters in jurisdictions such as San Juan County have already been reminded to use official drop boxes or contact local election offices for replacement ballots if theirs have not arrived.
The state’s election calendar also shows that county canvassing boards will certify official results following Election Day, with certification expected by February 20. As Washington prepares for this special election, officials continue to encourage participation and provide resources through VoteWA.gov to help voters confirm registration status, find drop box locations and review precinct-specific ballot items.
