I’m a new citizen: How do I register to vote?

Are you a new U.S. citizen? First, congratulations! We know the path to citizenship can be a long one, so well done. One of the things you can now do as a U.S. citizen is vote. But first, you’ll need to register. There are a number of ways.

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Online: Washington State is one of 33 states and the District of Columbia to offer online voter registration. Online voter registration is the most convenient way to register and, naturally, the most popular. All you need is a current Washington State driver license or Washington State ID card.

By mail: Download and print a voter registration form and mail it back to us. Forms are available in many languages.

In person: You can register to vote in-person at the King County Elections office in Renton or the Voter Registration Annex in downtown Seattle.

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If you’re getting your citizenship soon, look out for one of our staff members at your naturalization ceremony. Each week our staff attends United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization ceremonies around King County. Our community outreach and voter services teams register new citizens to vote and answer questions about the voting process. Since March they have registered 254 new citizens from 60 different countries!

Besides being a U.S. citizen, there are other factors that determine your eligibility to register to vote (such as being at least 18 years old by election day). Here’s who can vote in Washington.