It’s Election Day 2024. Here’s what to know in Washington state

The big day’s finally here.

Tuesday’s election will decide who our next president and governor will be. Local races could determine the balance of power in Congress and in the state Legislature. And a quartet of ballot measures could reshape state policy on energy, taxes and long-term care insurance.

And here in Washington, 5 million people have the chance to participate in all of that and more. The state reached 5 million registered voters on Monday.

About 2.8 million Washingtonians had already cast a ballot as of Monday evening, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Voter turnout so far is lagging behind this point in the general election in 2020, when 3.6 million ballots had been returned.

Here’s what you need to know about the big contests, issues and deadlines.

How to vote

The deadline has passed to register to vote online. But you can register to vote in person on Election Day.

Here’s a list of King County vote centers. If you live outside of King County, here’s a list of local elections offices.

Washington is a mail-only state. To participate, you need to drop your ballot in a drop box by 8 p.m.

You can also mail it, but it must be postmarked by Election Day. You don’t need a stamp.

Make sure you’ve signed your ballot.

Turned yours in already? Here’s how to track it.

Counties provide accessible voting centers for people with disabilities who need help completing their ballots.

You can find more information about voting through your local elections office: King County Elections, Snohomish County Elections, Kitsap County Elections, Pierce County Elections.

Where to drop your ballot

Here’s where to find your ballot drop box: King County, Snohomish County, Kitsap County, Pierce County.

What’s on the ballot

The race for president has taken up the most oxygen, after an extraordinary summer of upheaval in the race, but our state will also choose a new governor.

The contest for the state’s highest office has come down to Bob Ferguson and Dave Reichert. Ferguson, the state’s attorney general and a Democrat, is favored to beat Republican Dave Reichert, a former congressman and sheriff of King County.

One of the most-watched congressional races in the country is playing out in Southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, as Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez defends her seat against Republican Joe Kent in a rematch after her win two years ago.

Washingtonians will also decide a slate of voter initiatives concerning the state’s carbon market, long-term care insurance program, capital gains tax and natural gas regulations. You can learn more about each of the races and initiatives here:

Ballot measures: I-2117 | I-2066 | I-2109 | I-2124 | U.S.: President | State: Governor | Lieutenant governor | Attorney general | Secretary of state | Superintendent of public instruction | Commissioner of public lands | Insurance commissioner | U.S. Congress: Senate | U.S. House of Representatives: District 1 | District 2 | District 3 | District 4 | District 5 | District 6 | District 7 | District 8 | District 9 | District 10 | Seattle: Seattle City Council, Position 8 | Seattle Proposition 1, the transportation levy | State House of Representatives: 43rd Legislative District, Position 2

This story uses material from The Seattle Times archives.