Washington voters have a simple goal after filling out a ballot: make sure it is counted. That means more than returning it—it means returning it on time, signing the outer envelope, and making sure the signature in your voter record still looks like the signature you use today.

Late ballots are a growing concern

In the August 2026 primary, the statewide rate of Washington ballots rejected for late postmarks rose 32% compared with the August 2024 primary, according to reporting by KNKX and KUOW. The increase was especially pronounced in some rural counties. State officials connected the problem to U.S. Postal Service postmarking practices that can delay when a mailed ballot receives its postmark.

For Tacoma and Pierce County voters, the practical takeaway is clear: do not leave a mailed ballot until the last minute. Mail it well ahead of Election Day, or use an official ballot drop box. A drop box removes uncertainty about postal collection and postmark timing.

Visit the site’s Election Center for official registration, ballot-status, and local-election resources.

“Rejected” may mean your ballot can still be fixed

Pierce County notes that a ballot status labeled “rejected” is often temporary. In many cases, it means the ballot has been challenged and the voter has time to correct the issue—known as curing the ballot—before election certification. The County Canvassing Board is the body that can officially reject a ballot.

Common challenge reasons include an unsigned return envelope, a signature that does not match the voter record, an identification issue, or a signature that appears to be from someone other than the voter. The county says it contacts voters when an action is needed.

Track your ballot at VoteWA.gov after returning it. The status updates as the ballot is received and processed; Pierce County advises allowing three to five business days for a received ballot to appear. If a challenge appears, follow the county’s cure instructions promptly.

Check your voter-registration signature now

Signature issues are one of the most preventable reasons a ballot can be challenged. Election staff compare the signature on the return envelope with signatures in the voter-registration record. A signature can naturally change after a name change, injury, disability, illness, or years of signing differently.

Pierce County encourages voters to update their registration signature when it no longer reflects how they sign. Voters can use a signature-update form, a voter-registration form, or the county’s online update option. The county can retain more than one legitimate signature variation, so voters who regularly sign in more than one way can submit a separate form for each version.

For Pierce County, signature updates by mail or email are accepted up to eight days before Election Day; voters may also update in person until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Updating early is the safest choice.

A five-step ballot checklist

  1. Confirm your registration, address, and ballot status through VoteWA.gov.
  2. Check that your voter-registration signature is current before returning your ballot.
  3. Sign the declaration on the outside of the return envelope.
  4. Return the ballot early—preferably through an official drop box if Election Day is close.
  5. Track the ballot after return and respond immediately if your county contacts you about a challenge.

For more practical voting steps, see Network of Tacoma’s 2026 voter guide. Taking a few minutes to check a signature and track a ballot can help ensure a completed ballot becomes a counted ballot.