Get Involved
How to vote your voice!
Washington State Voting Legislation directly affecting youth:
The future voter program: Starting July 1st 2019, new legislation allows 16 and 17 years old to sign up as prospective voters and be automatically registered to vote when they turn 18. This can be done when applying for driver’s license or online.
New in 2022: A voter who turns 18 between the August primary and the November general election can vote in primary.
What happens when you move to college or join the military? Your residential address determines your ballot content. You can mail your ballot from anywhere globally but your residential address determines which State you can vote in. You may choose to receive your ballot at your permanent residence even after you move.
You may not vote in more than one State.
How to Influence Change
Attend Neighborhood Association meetings
Join a club with a cause or legislative agenda (Sierra Club, Cascade Bike Club)
Volunteer to assist in a campaign- doorbell, phone bank
Attend political forums and ask questions of the candidates
Testify on state legislation
Make public comment at local council meetings
Encourage your friends to vote and explain why it is important
Registration
WA State does not require a party affiliation to be declared upon registration.
- If you moved from your original residency, you may vote as an absentee or change your permanent address to vote from your current location. You cannot vote in two different states.
- The links below are your direct registration forms to either update residency or vote as an absentee.
- Students with scholarships or tuition that require residency should check with their financial aid office before registering to vote back home. For example, if you have a scholarship that requires California residency, you should ensure that registering to vote in a different state will not affect your status.
- You must be a resident of Washington State.
- You must establish your voting residency address at least 30 days before Election Day. You may specify a mailing address that is different from your residential address.
- If you move or are temporarily away, you may maintain your voter registration at that address until you register to vote elsewhere.
- If you have a nontraditional address, such as a motor home or transitional housing, your voting residence is the physical location at the time you register to vote. You may list a different address for your mailing address.
- If you are a United States citizen living abroad, you may use your last Washington address. If you have never lived in the country, you may use the last address of your parents or other family member.
Even if you are living outside of Washington State, you will retain your residency if you are:
- employed in the civil or military service of the state or of the United States;
- living overseas;
- attending college or any institution of learning; or
- confined in any public prison.
You may maintain your voter registration in Washington State until you register to vote elsewhere.
How to Contact Your Elected Officials
Local
Lynne Robinson, Mayor
lrobinson@bellevuewa.gov
Jared Nieuwenhuis, Councilmember
jnieuwenhuis@bellevuewa.gov
Conrad Lee, Councilmember
clee@bellevuewa.gov
Dave Hamilton, Councilmember
Dhamilton@bellevuewa.gov
Mo Malakoutian, Deputy Mayor
Mmalakoutian@bellevuewa.gov
John Stokes, Councilmember
jstokes@bellevuewa.gov
Janice Zahn, Councilmember
jzahn@bellevuewa.gov
County
Dow Constantine, Executive
kcexec@kingcounty.gov
Claudia Balducci, District 6 Councilmember
claudia.balducci@kingcounty.gov
Reagan Dunn, District 9 Councilmember
reagan.dunn@kingcounty.gov
State
Governor Jay Inslee
contact form here
Lisa Wellman, 41st LD Senator
lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov
Tana Senn, 41st LD Representative
tana.senn@leg.wa.gov
My-Linh Thai, 41st LD Representative
my-linh.thai@leg.wa.gov
Patty Kuderer, 48th LD Senator
patty.kuderer@leg.wa.gov
Vandana Slatter, 48th LD Representative
vandana.slatter@leg.wa.gov
Amy Walen, 48th LD Representative
amy.walen@leg.wa.gov
Federal
President Joe Biden
contact form here
Senator Patty Murray
contact form here
Senator Maria Cantwell
contact form here
Representative Adam Smith
contact form here