Military and Overseas Voters

Columbia County is dedicated to ensuring expedited ballot access is available to our overseas citizens and service members. These citizens are provided extra securities and measures under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE).

Any Columbia County resident who is Active-Duty military, is an immediate family member of an Active-Duty service member, or is a citizen overseas, has many options to participate, cast a ballot, and help us ensure his or her vote counts.

How to Register

You may register to vote online, download the Washington Voter Registration Form, or the Federal Postcard Application to register to vote.

Online

Mail-in

Voter Registration Form

Federal Postcard Application

Email

Complete, print, and sign a Federal Postcard Application. Scan the registration and email to Cathy Abel (Subject: Federal Postcard application)

Fax

Complete, print, and sign a Federal Postcard Application. Fax to Columbia County Elections at (509) 382-4830.

Send completed forms to:

Washington Secretary of State
Elections Division
P.O. Box 40229
Olympia, WA 98504-40229

How to Receive a Ballot

Election officials in Columbia County and all across Washington State are concerned that all military and overseas voters receive their ballots in a timely manner that allows them to be returned in time to be counted. In order to accomplish this, counties have added services such as:
Faxing a blank ballot
Emailing a blank ballot
Sending a ballot by regular mail
Sending a ballot by priority mail or other delivery services.
Receive Your Ballot by E-mail

You may request a blank ballot by email by sending a written request to 341 E Main Suite 3, Dayton, WA 99328 or an email request.

How to Return a Voted Ballot

Election officials in Washington State continue to count valid ballots returned after an election as long as they are either postmarked, or signed and dated, no later than election day. Ballots may be returned up to 15 days after a primary election or special election, and 21 days after a general election.

In order to ensure that your ballot is counted, there are things you can do:

Be sure to sign and date your ballot envelope.
Request your ballot as early as possible, requesting an alternative delivery method.
Vote and return your ballot as early as possible.
Optional: You may be able to use the Postage-Paid Envelope Template.

Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots

Federal write-in absentee ballots may be used by active military and overseas civilian voters residing outside the United States if their regular absentee ballot has not been received in a timely manner.

These ballots can be obtained from your Installation Voting Officer or from any US Embassy or Consular Office or you may request the write-in ballot directly from the Federal Voting Assistance Program. Learn more by visiting Federal Voting Assistance Program These ballots must be received by 9 a.m. the day before certification of the election, which occurs 15 days after the August primary and 21 days after the November General Election.