| The links at the left will take to you to the various federal government pages dedicated to military and overseas voting. The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) is designed to aid all overseas citizens in voting for federal offices. The Washington assistance guide will provide answers for citizens voting under Washington state law.
The instructions below are to be followed once you receive your ballot from us.
Before
voting—please read these instructions:
- Mark
your ballot according to the instructions printed on the ballot and/or included instructions.
- Place
the voted ballot in the Secrecy Envelope. Seal this envelope. Place the Secrecy Envelope
in the outer return mailing envelope.
- Read the Voter's Oath printed on the outer return mailing envelope addressed
to your County Auditor and sign where indicated. The date you enter on the Voter's Oath is considered
the date of mailing and must be no later than the day of the election.
- Note:
The date of the election is printed at the top of the ballot.
For out-of-state voters, overseas voters, and service voters, the signed declaration on the return envelope constitutes the equivalent of a voter registration for the election or primary for which the ballot has been issued.
Mail the return ballot as soon as possible. Return postage is free if
the ballot is mailed through the United States Postal Service, United
States Armed Forces Postal Service, or the Postal Service of a United
States Foreign Embassy.
If
you agree to waive the secrecy of your ballot, you have the option
of faxing your ballot directly to your County Auditor. You must
fax your voted ballot, the signed Voter's Oath on the return envelope,
and the signed fax waiver. The ballot will be counted only if your
original ballot and Oath are received by the County Auditor before
certification of the election. (15 days after any Primary or Special
election, 21 days after any General election)
- The
Whatcom County Auditor FAX number is: 360 738 - 4556
- Waiver: Include a cover
sheet with your printed name, date of birth and the statement: “I understand that by faxing my voted ballot, I am voluntarily waiving my right to a secret ballot.”
If
you do not receive your ballot on time you may download and print
the Whatcom County Sample Ballot from this website (a link to the current election sample will be on the Auditor's Home page), mark it and return it to
the address below. Be sure to seal it in a plain envelope, sign
and enter the date you voted it then place that envelope
in your mailing envelope and place the required postage on it.
Whatcom County
Elections
311 Grand Avenue
Suite 103
Bellingham, WA
98225
- Cut and paste or write
this oath on your inside return ballot envelope if you create your
own.
Ballot
oath:
I do solemnly swear or
affirm under penalty of perjury that:
I am a legal resident of the state of Washington;
I am entitled to vote in this election;
I have not already voted in this election;
It is illegal to vote if I am not a United
States citizen;
It is illegal to vote if I have been convicted
of a felony and have not had my voting rights restored;
It is illegal to cast a ballot or sign
an absentee envelope on behalf of another voter, except as otherwise
provided by law; and
Attempting to vote when not entitled, attempting
to vote more than once, or falsely signing this oath is a felony
punishable by a maximum imprisonment of five years, a maximum fine
of $10,000, or both.
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