Presidential Primary Information for Washington Voters

Attention Washington Voters:

Washington's Presidential Primary will be held March 10. This is the only election in which Washington's voters are required to mark and sign party declarations written by the major political parties. Every registered voter receives a mailed ballot packet after February 21,

Vote for one only. Both the Democratic and Republican ballots will appear on a single (consolidated) ballot. Unlike other elections, you may only vote for one printed candidate on the entire ballot page.

Party declaration. You must mark and sign a political party declaration on the ballot return envelope. The declaration must match your voted candidate's political party.

Why do I need to mark a party box?

You must mark and sign the party declaration on your envelope for your vote to count per RCW 294.56.050. Your choice of party will not affect how you may vote in future elections Attempts to change the party declaration wording could result in your ballot not being counted. Each major party wrote its declaration and provided it to the Secretary of State's Office for ballot materials. In the November General Election, you will not declare a party and may vote for any presidential candidate you wish.

Can I vote for a candidate from each political party?

No. Your ballot is divided into 2 sides: Democratic Party (blue) and Republican Party (red). For your vote to count, you must vote for one candidate from the political party you marked on your envelope. If you vote both sides of the ballot, or the opposite side of the ballot, your vote will not count. Ballots are mailed February 21.

What is the difference between a primary and a caucus?

The Presidential Primary is a process of collecting votes for presidential candidates from Washington voters that sign a political party declaration and return a ballot. Caucuses are run by each party to determine issues for party platforms and to select the delegates who will participate in state and national party conventions. For more information about caucuses, please contact your political party.

Can I participate in both the Presidential Primary and a caucus?

Yes. Voters may participate in political party caucuses and the Presidential Primary, but only on behalf of the same party. Every voter participating in the Presidential Primary must sign a party declaration stating that the voter has not participated in the other party's caucus process. Per state law, each party receives a list of voters who chose to affiliate with that party in the Presidential Primary only.

What's the difference between this primary and the Top 2 Primary in August?

The Presidential Primary in March is a nomination process conducted for major political party candidates for US President only. The August Primary is when voters in our state winnow down the field of candidates to the Top 2 finishers who qualify for the November General Election. Voters are not required to pick a party. You will not sign a party declaration to participate in the August Primary nor the November General Election 

Key Dates

January 7 - Deadline for each major political party to submit their final list of candidates to be printed on their side of the ballot. Once the names are submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State, changes cannot be made. (RCW 29A.56) The same candidates will appear in the printed Voters' Pamphlet and online Voters' Guide.
January 25 - Military and overseas ballots and Voters' Pamphlets are mailed:
February 12 thru 21 -3.4 million Voters' Pamphlets are mailed statewide.
February 21 - Ballots are mailed to every registered voter and voting centers open.
March 2 - Deadline for online registrations and address updates; mailed registrations must be received by an elections official, not postmarked.
March 10 - Presidential Primary

• Last day to register or update in person at a county elections office.
• Mailed ballots must have a March 10 postmark to count.
• All returned ballots must have a valid signature.
• Ballot boxes and voting centers close at 8:00 p.m.
• After 8:00 p.m., counties begin transmission of results to the Secretary of State.

March 27 - Last day for Secretary of State to certify Presidential Primary results.

July, August - The major political parties hold conventions to officially nominate their candidates for US President. The 2020 Democratic National Convention is july 13-16, 2020, and the Republican National Convention is August 24-27, 2020.