Key races to watch in 2023 Washington general election
Voter information and a guide to key races appearing on 2023 general election ballots in Washington state.
Register to vote
Before you can vote in Washington state, you must register. Registration can be done in several ways: Online, by mail or in person.
To register online you'll need your Washington state driver's license or ID. Visit Votewa.gov and submit your information.
To register by mail, either print a voter registration form or request a registration form. Address the completed form to your county elections office address before mailing.
To register in person, visit your county election office.
To register to vote, you must be:
- A citizen of the United States
- A legal resident of Washington state
- At least 18 years old by Election Day
- Not disqualified from voting due to a court order
- Not under Department of Corrections supervision for a Washington felony conviction.
Dates and deadlines
Oct. 20: November general election 18-day voting period begins
Oct. 30: Deadline to receive new registrations and voter updates online and by mail for the 2023 November general election
Nov. 7: Deadline for in-person registration and voter updates for the 2023 November general election
Nov. 7 at 8 p.m.: Deadline to drop ballots in drop boxes
Nov. 28: County Canvassing Board certifies and transmits results of 2023 November general election
Dec. 7: Last day for secretary of state to certify 2023 November general election results
Voting by mail
Washington has been a vote-by-mail state since 2011.
Registered voters do not need to request a ballot. Ballots are automatically mailed to the address the voter has registered.
Confirm your registration at VoteWA.gov.
Completed ballots are placed in a security envelope or sleeve.
The security envelope or sleeve is then put into a return envelope and signed. Ballots must be signed. Signatures are checked against voter registration records.
Ballots have pre-paid postage and are returned through the mail or at ballot drop boxes. If mailed, it must be postmarked by Election Day. The U.S. Postal Service recommends voters mail ballots a week prior. Drop boxes are open until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Tracking your ballot
After dropping off or mailing a ballot, voters can track the status of their ballot by visiting VoteWA.gov.
Voters must sign in.
On the navigation bar, select "Ballot Status."
Information includes when the ballot was sent, when it was returned and its current status.
How ballots are processed
After a ballot is delivered, envelopes are scanned and marked as "received" in the state system.
They are sorted by precinct and district.
Signatures on ballots are checked against voter registration records. (Voters are contacted before processing if a signature is missing or doesn't match.)
Envelopes are opened and the security sleeve is removed.
Ballots are removed from the security sleeve.
Ballots are reviewed for scanning issues, then scanned and stored.
Key races
Local races will appear on your ballot during the 2023 general election.
Candidates that appear on general election ballots were one of two top vote-getters during the August primary.
Here's a look at some of the key races in Washington state:
Seattle City Council
This year’s election is for the seven district seats and does not include the two citywide seats held by Councilmember Sara Nelson and Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda.
The council members trying to keep their seats this year are Tammy Morales (District 2), Dan Strauss (District 6) and Andrew Lewis (District 7). Councilmembers Kshama Sawant (District 3), Alex Pedersen (District 4), Debora Juarez (District 5), and Lisa Herbold (District 1) are all not seeking reelection.
This will also be the first city council election since the recent redistricting.
KING 5 aired four debates in October for the races that do not have an incumbent. Watch those debates in their entirety here.
King County Council
Neither King County Council District 4 or District 8 have an incumbent candidate.
Jeanne Kohl-Welles announced early this year she would retire after more than 30 years in elected office. Kohl-Welles, who has represented District 4 since 2016, said in her announcement that “it’s time to pass the torch for others to get involved.”
Jorge L. Barón and Sarah Reyneveld advanced to the general election. Barón received 51% of the vote during the primary while Reyneveld received 29%.
Joe McDermott also chose not to seek reelection for District 8. McDermott was elected to the council in 2010.
Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda and Burien Mayor Sofia Aragon advanced to the general election. Mosqueda received 58% of the vote while Aragon received 38%.
Seattle's Prop. 1 - Property tax levy renewal
Proposition No. 1 on Seattle ballots will renew the Seattle Housing Levy.
The levy authorizes a seven-year property tax increase beginning in 2024 at approximately 45 centers per $1,000 assessed property value. The 2024 amount would be used to compute limitations for the years 2025-2030, with the maximum being $3.60 per $1,000 of assessed value.
If approved, it will replace the expiring housing levy that funds housing and services for low-income households.
Kirkland Prop. 1 - Increasing property tax levy
Proposition No. 1 on Kirkland ballots would increase the city's regular property tax to further fund aquatic and recreation center operations, parks maintenance, year-round restrooms, park rangers, beach lifeguards, sports courts, teen services and green loop trail networks.
If approved, Kirkland would build a new 86,000-square-foot aquatic and recreation center.
If approved, it would increase the property tax levy to a maximum rate of $1.38 per $1,000 of assessed value. The 2024 amount would be the basis for calculating subsequent levies.
Maple Valley Prop. 1 - Increasing funding for public safety
Proposition 1 for Maple Valley would increase the city's regular property tax to a maximum rate of $1.18 of $1,000 assessed value for 2024.
The increased funding would be spent on public safety and maintaining current police staffing and service levels, including patrols, school zone traffic enforcement, school resource officers and crime prevention programs.
The 2024 levy amount would be the basis for calculating subsequent levies.
Watch: KING 5's state election coverage