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State profile

Washington elections & voting

Electoral votes, voting rules, and presidential results for Washington.

How Washington votes

In 2024, Washington voted Democratic. It has backed the Democratic Party in its last 5 consecutive elections.

12
electoral votes
Voter IDNo-excuse absenteeEarly votingSame-day registrationAutomatic registration

Voting rules

Signature Verification
Active

No ID required; signature verification used

Voter ID
Effective: 2011
All-Mail Elections
Active

Washington conducts all-mail elections

Mail-In Voting
Effective: 2011
Same-Day Registration
Active

Register and vote on Election Day

Same-Day Registration
Effective: 2019
Automatic Voter Registration
Active

Auto-registration at DOL

Automatic Registration
Effective: 2018

Election history

How Washington has voted in presidential elections.

  • 2024DemocraticKamala Harris12 EV
  • 2020DemocraticJoe Biden12 EV
  • 2016DemocraticHillary Clinton12 EV
  • 2012DemocraticBarack Obama12 EV
  • 2008DemocraticBarack Obama11 EV
  • 1920RepublicanWarren G. Harding7 EV
  • 1916DemocraticWoodrow Wilson7 EV
  • 1912ProgressiveTheodore Roosevelt7 EV
  • 1908RepublicanWilliam Howard Taft5 EV
  • 1904RepublicanTheodore Roosevelt5 EV
  • 1900RepublicanWilliam McKinley4 EV
  • 1896DemocraticWilliam Jennings Bryan4 EV
  • 1892RepublicanBenjamin Harrison4 EV

Timeline

2020s

2024
Election
Democratic
major

2024 Presidential Election

Kamala Harris won WA with 12 electoral votes

2020
Election
Democratic
major

2020 Presidential Election

Joe Biden won WA with 12 electoral votes

2010s

2019
Rule Change
Same-Day Registration
moderate

Same-Day Registration

Register and vote on Election Day

2018
Rule Change
Auto Registration
moderate

Automatic Voter Registration

Auto-registration at DOL

2016
Election
Democratic
major

2016 Presidential Election

Hillary Clinton won WA with 12 electoral votes

2012
Election
Democratic
major

2012 Presidential Election

Barack Obama won WA with 12 electoral votes

2011
Rule Change
Voter ID
major

Signature Verification

No ID required; signature verification used

2011
Rule Change
Mail Voting
major

All-Mail Elections

Washington conducts all-mail elections

2000s

2008
Election
Democratic
major

2008 Presidential Election

Barack Obama won WA with 11 electoral votes

1920s

1920
Election
Republican
major

1920 Presidential Election

Warren G. Harding won WA with 7 electoral votes

1910s

1916
Election
Democratic
major

1916 Presidential Election

Woodrow Wilson won WA with 7 electoral votes

1912
Election
Progressive
major

1912 Presidential Election

Theodore Roosevelt won WA with 7 electoral votes

1900s

1908
Election
Republican
major

1908 Presidential Election

William Howard Taft won WA with 5 electoral votes

1904
Election
Republican
major

1904 Presidential Election

Theodore Roosevelt won WA with 5 electoral votes

1900
Election
Republican
major

1900 Presidential Election

William McKinley won WA with 4 electoral votes

1890s

1896
Election
Democratic
major

1896 Presidential Election

William Jennings Bryan won WA with 4 electoral votes

1892
Election
Republican
major

1892 Presidential Election

Benjamin Harrison won WA with 4 electoral votes

This site explains the structure and history of U.S. federal elections and is not an official government resource. All data shown is for educational purposes only.