Tacoma residents who have moved, changed their name, or never registered to vote will not receive a ballot for the August 4 Primary Election unless they act by July 27.
Pierce County Elections announced the deadline schedule for the upcoming primary in a release published July 7. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters starting July 14, the same day ballot drop boxes open across the county.
But voters whose registration doesn't reflect their current address or legal name won't get a ballot at their current address. The process to fix it is simple, according to Pierce County Elections: update or register online at VoteWA.gov by Monday, July 27, or visit a vote center in person by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, August 4.
Key deadlines
- Tuesday, July 14 — Ballots mailed; more than 50 ballot drop boxes open countywide
- Monday, July 27 — Last day to register or update online at VoteWA.gov
- Tuesday, August 4, 8 p.m. — Last chance to register or update in person at a vote center
Who needs to act
Anyone who has moved since their last election, gotten married or legally changed their name, or has never registered in Washington state needs to update or register before the July 27 online deadline to guarantee a ballot arrives by mail.
Voters who miss that date can still register or make changes in person at a Pierce County vote center through 8 p.m. on August 4.
Vote centers also offer replacement ballots and Accessible Voting Units for voters who need large print, audio ballots, or other assistance. A full list of vote center locations is available at piercecountywa.gov/9029/Vote-Centers.
Signature mismatches can delay your ballot
Pierce County Elections verifies every returned ballot by matching the voter's signature against the one on file. Signatures drift over time.
Residents in their late teens and early 20s are especially likely to have a signature on file that no longer matches how they currently sign, which can trigger a mismatch during verification.
Voters can update their signature online at the county's OmniBallot portal or by downloading a signature update form from the Pierce County Elections website.
Questions about your registration?
Residents can reach Pierce County Elections Manager Kyle Haugh at (253) 798-2146 with questions about registration status, vote center locations, or signature updates. Online registration and updates are available around the clock at VoteWA.gov through Monday, July 27.
