Updated Nov. 4, 2026: Voting in the Nov. 3 general election has closed. The figures below are an Oct. 28 ballot-return snapshot, not final turnout or election results. For the count so far, see our Snohomish County results coverage and the official statewide results.
More than 1.38 million Washington ballots had been returned for the Nov. 3 general election by Wednesday, Oct. 28, according to the Secretary of State’s ballot-return report.
That put the statewide return rate at 26.79%, a little more than one in four registered voters. Snohomish County was almost exactly on that pace, while Island County, which includes Camano Island, had a higher return rate.
How local returns compared on Oct. 28
The state report listed:
- Washington: 1,383,805 ballots returned, or 26.79% of registered voters in the election.
- Snohomish County: 146,862 ballots returned, or 26.82%.
- Island County: 19,493 ballots returned, or 29.45%.
These figures come from the state dashboard refreshed Oct. 28 at 4:51 p.m. Snohomish County’s separate county report, refreshed earlier at 4:30 p.m., showed 146,861 returns. Each report is a snapshot, and the totals can change as election offices receive and process ballots.
Statewide, return rates also varied widely by age: 49.4% of voters 65 and older had returned ballots, compared with 9.8% of voters ages 18 to 24. Those percentages measure participation within each age group.
What the numbers mean
The state’s returned-ballot total includes accepted ballots, ballots awaiting processing and ballots with an unresolved issue. The statewide report listed 1,356,037 accepted ballots.
An accepted ballot has completed signature review, and the voter has been credited with voting. A challenged ballot has an issue, such as a missing or mismatched signature, that needs to be resolved before it can be accepted. The return statistics track ballot processing; candidate and ballot-measure results are separate.
After Election Day: track your ballot
The Nov. 3 ballot-return deadline has passed. You can still check the status of a ballot you returned at VoteWA.gov. Snohomish County advises allowing three to five business days for processing; its ballot-tracking guide explains the status messages and when to contact elections staff.
If your ballot has a missing or mismatched signature, follow the instructions from your county promptly. Snohomish County says its signature-resolution form must be received by 5 p.m. the day before certification. For this election, that is 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, based on the county’s Nov. 24 certification schedule. A postmark alone does not meet that receipt deadline. Island County voters should use their county’s signature instructions.
Historical ballot-return figures checked Oct. 28, 2026. Post-election tracking and signature guidance checked Nov. 4. The Oct. 28 figures above have been retained as a dated snapshot.
