Ballots for November 3 Election Will Be Mailed to Voters on October 9
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Sierra Cornelius, Communications and Public Engagement Officer
Voters can expect ballots to arrive starting this weekend, with deliveries continuing into next week. Voters are encouraged to review election materials and return ballots early.
EVERETT, Wash., October 7, 2026 – Ballots for the November 3 General Election will be mailed on Friday, October 9, to approximately 535,000 registered voters. Voters can expect to begin receiving their ballots starting this weekend, with deliveries continuing through Wednesday of next week. If a registered voter has not received their ballot by Wednesday, October 14, they should call Snohomish County Elections at 425-388-3444.
A combined state and local voters’ pamphlet was mailed to every household in Snohomish County earlier this month. The pamphlet provides information about the candidates and measures that appear on voters’ ballots. Once voters receive their November ballot, they are encouraged to review the pamphlet and all materials included in their ballot packet, then complete and return their ballot as early as possible. Acting early allows voters time to address any questions or issues that may arise, provides flexibility if unexpected circumstances affect their plans, and helps ensure their ballot has enough time to be received, processed, and counted.
“We are mailing ballots to voters a few weeks earlier than usual this election to provide voters with extra time to return their ballots before Election Day, November 3,” said Snohomish County Auditor Garth Fell. “Official county-operated ballot drop boxes are the most direct and reliable way to return your ballot. If you choose to return your ballot by mail, we strongly encourage you to mail it at least one week before Election Day to allow enough time for processing and delivery.”
Recent operational changes within the U.S. Postal Service, including reduced pickup frequency in some areas and changes to postmarking procedures, may affect delivery and postmark timelines for ballots returned close to Election Day. Using an official ballot drop box, especially during the final week before Election Day, is the most reliable way for voters to ensure their ballot is received on time. Voters who need to return their ballot by mail within one week of Election Day are encouraged to visit a local post office in person to request a free, hand-stamped postmark from a postal clerk to ensure their ballot is accepted as “on-time.” Ballots must be postmarked by November 3 to be counted.
There will be 38 official ballot drop boxes open for the November 3 General Election, including three new locations added this year at the Evergreen Library Branch in Everett, Maltby Elementary in Maltby, and Salem Woods Elementary in Monroe. Voters have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to return their ballot to an official ballot drop box. Ballot drop boxes are available 24 hours a day until 8 p.m. on Election Day, providing a convenient and direct option for voters to return their completed ballots. A complete list of official ballot drop box locations can be found online at snoco.gov/elections and in the voters’ pamphlet.
The November General Election ballot will include races for federal, state, and local offices, including contests for U.S. Representative, State Representative, State Senator and State Judicial positions. Local races will include County Prosecuting Attorney, Public Utility District Commissioner, and judicial offices in four district courts.
In addition to candidate races, voters will also consider three statewide initiatives and five proposed amendments to the Snohomish County Charter. Voters in certain jurisdictions will also see local ballot measures for the City of Everett and the City of Bothell, as well as measures for three school districts, two fire districts, and one hospital district.
Voters have until Monday, October 26, to register to vote or update their existing voter registration online or by mail. In-person voter services, including registering to vote, updating an existing registration, obtaining a new or replacement ballot, and using accessible voting equipment will be available until 8 p.m. on Election Night, Tuesday, November 3, at the Auditor’s Office in Everett or at an accessible voter services location. For hours of operation and the addresses of accessible voter services locations, please refer to the local voters’ pamphlet or the county’s website.
Voters can track the status of their ballot online and sign up to receive text alerts about their ballot at VoteWA.gov. These tools allow voters to see when their ballot is received by Snohomish County Elections, verified, and accepted for counting. Voters who have signed up for text alerts will also be notified if there is a problem with their ballot signature and provided with instructions to resolve the issue.
After returning their completed ballots, voters can celebrate their civic participation with one of Snohomish County’s new “I Voted” stickers, available at the Auditor’s Office in Everett, all Sno-Isle Libraries locations, and accessible voter services sites during their hours of operation. Voters can choose from seven designs that highlight some of the landscapes, industries, and cultures that make Snohomish County unique, including a new design created in collaboration with the Tulalip Tribes that reflects Coast Salish cultural heritage. These stickers are a small but meaningful way for voters to celebrate their civic pride and the places they call home.
For more information, visit Snohomish County Elections’ website at snoco.gov/elections. You can also connect with the Auditor's Office on Facebook, Instagram, and X. If you have additional questions, please email Snohomish County Elections at elections@snoco.gov.
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Photos:
- A seasonal elections worker places a stack of inbound ballots with voters’ signatures that have been verified and accepted for processing into a green tray during the August 4 Primary.
- Seasonal elections staff open inbound ballot envelopes with accepted signatures and separate the contents during processing for the August 4 Primary at the Snohomish County Elections Center in Everett.
About the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office: Through the dedicated work of 46 public employees, the nonpartisan Auditor’s Office registers voters and conducts elections; issues pet and kennel licenses; responds to animal-related safety incidents; licenses cars, boats, and other vehicles; records property and other legal documents; issues marriage licenses; and performs many other customer-focused vital government services. Garth Fell was elected as the nonpartisan Auditor for Washington’s third-largest county in 2019 and reelected in 2023. He is a nationally certified elections administrator who has overseen more than 100 elections during his 27-year career, including seven presidential elections. Auditor Fell also serves as president of the Washington State Association of County Auditors and as a member of the Washington State Recording Standards Commission.
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