Oct 6, 2022 - News

Washington among best states for voting accessibility

2022 Cost of Voting Index
Data: Schraufnagel, et al., 2022, β€œCost of Voting in the American States: 2022”; Map: Kavya Beheraj/Axios

It's easier to cast a ballot in Washington than in almost any other U.S. state, according to a nonpartisan study published in the Election Law Journal.

Driving the news: The 2022 Cost of Voting Index ranks Washington as having the second-fewest obstacles to voting, behind only Oregon.

Why it matters: Making it difficult to register to vote or return a ballot can cause people to sit out elections, reducing participation in our democracy.

Details: Oregon and Washington ranked highly because of their use of all-mail voting and the length of time people have to fill out their ballots, making voting more convenient, the study said.

  • Both states also have same-day voter registration and widespread automatic registration that's triggered when people interact with state agencies like the Department of Licensing.

Zoom in: In Washington, ballots must be mailed to voters 18 days before Election Day, giving people 2.5 weeks to vote.

Be smart: While Washingtonians can register to vote in person at a voting center as late as Election Day, you can save yourself a trip and do it online through Oct. 31.

What's next: Ballots will be mailed to registered voters by Oct. 21.

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