1. (1) A service or overseas voter may register to vote or update their voter registration record by completing and providing:

   1. (a) A voter registration application prescribed by the state of Washington;
   2. (b) A federal post card application prescribed by the federal voting assistance program;
   3. (c) A federal write-in absentee ballot prescribed by the federal voting assistance program;
   4. (d) A national mail voter registration form prescribed by the United States election assistance commission; or
   5. (e) A ballot with a valid signature on the ballot declaration.

2. (2) Pursuant to RCW 29A.40.010 and 29A.40.091, a service or overseas voter does not have to be registered to request a ballot. Consequently, a service or overseas voter who is not already registered in Washington may request a ballot and register to vote after the registration deadlines in RCW 29A.08.140.

   1. (a) If the service or overseas voter registration applicant is not currently registered to vote, the county auditor must register the voter immediately. The voter must be designated as a service or overseas voter in the voter registration system.
   2. (b) A service or overseas voter must use their most recent residential address in Washington or a family member's most recent residential address in Washington.

   3. (c) If the county auditor is unable to assign the voter a precinct due to a missing or incomplete residential address on the application, the county auditor must attempt to contact the voter to clarify the application.

      1. (i) If, in the judgment of the county auditor, there is insufficient time to correct the application before the primary or election, the county auditor must issue the ballot as if the voter had listed the county auditor's office as the residential address. A special precinct for this purpose may be created. The only offices and measures that may be tabulated are those common to the entire county and congressional races based on the precinct encompassing the county auditor's office.
      2. (ii) After the primary or election, the county auditor must place the voter on inactive status and send the voter a confirmation notice to obtain the voter's correct residential address.

   4. (d) A service or overseas voter who registers to vote by signing the ballot declaration is not required to provide a Washington driver's license number, the last four digits of the Social Security number, or other form of identification as required by RCW 29A.08.107.

      A service or overseas voter who registers to vote any other way requires a Washington driver's license number, state identification card number, or the last four digits of the Social Security number that matches the information maintained by the Washington department of licensing or the Social Security Administration, or other form of identification as required by RCW 29A.08.107.

   A service or overseas voter who is already registered to vote in Washington may not update their voter registration record after the deadlines in RCW 29A.08.140.

3. (3) The county auditor must offer a service or overseas voter the option of receiving blank ballots by email or postal mail. This requirement is satisfied if the service or overseas voter registers on an application that offers electronic ballot delivery as an option, or if the voter expresses a preference when registering, updating a registration, or requesting a ballot. The county auditor must attempt to contact the voter by phone, email, postal mail, or other means. If the voter does not indicate a preference or does not respond, the county auditor must send ballots by postal mail.
4. (4) The county auditor shall keep the voter on service or overseas status until the county auditor receives verification the voter no longer qualifies as a service or overseas voter under WAC 434-235-010.
5. (5) Pursuant to 52 U.S.C. § 20301 and RCW 29A.08.710, designation as a service or overseas voter is not subject to public inspection and copying.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611. WSR 26-09-039, s 434-235-020, filed 4/8/26, effective 5/9/26. Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611, 29A.24.091, 29A.24.311, 29A.60.021, 29A.60.185, 29A.60.170, 29A.60.110, and 29A.60.235. WSR 19-01-102, § 434-235-020, filed 12/18/18, effective 1/18/19. Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611. WSR 14-06-040, § 434-235-020, filed 2/26/14, effective 3/29/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611, 29A.04.620, and 29A.04.630. WSR 11-24-064, § 434-235-020, filed 12/6/11, effective 1/6/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611, 29A.04.255. WSR 11-05-008, § 434-235-020, filed 2/3/11, effective 3/6/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 29A.04.611. WSR 09-18-098, § 434-235-020, filed 9/1/09, effective 10/2/09; WSR 07-20-074, § 434-235-020, filed 10/1/07, effective 11/1/07.]