Working Together for Justice
We believe that by working together, we can create a community where all women and families have a safe and stable place to live, all women are economically self-sufficient, all children and youth develop the skills they need to succeed in life, and all people live with dignity, free from violence, racism, and discrimination.
Voting in Washington
Register to Vote
To register to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, resident of WA, and over the age of 18. Register to vote online here. To check your registration status and learn if you need to update your mailing address, you can visit Washington State’s Voter Portal.
For a detailed overview of all the conditions and requirements of voting in Washington state, watch the short video from the How to Vote in Every State series. If you reside in another state, you can explore How to Vote to Every State’s YouTube channel to learn specifics about your area.
Returning Your Ballot
Spokane County has a Vote-by-Mail process. Once you have marked your ballot, you have several choices in returning your ballot to the Spokane County Elections Office.
Mail
Ballots can be mailed without postage and must be postmarked by Election Day.
Drop Box
Located primarily at public libraries and the Spokane County Courthouse, ballot drop boxes are open until 8:00pm on Election Day.
Voting Safely
Address Confidentiality Program
Survivors of Intimate Partner Domestic Violence may experience barriers to voting due to safety concerns.
In the state of Washington, The Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) offers survivors a substitute address and public records protection.
By registering for ACP 그리고 voting as an ACP Protected Registered Voter (PRV), a survivor’s physical address will not appear in public records.
Got Out The Vote Campaign
We know how crucial it is to support women, particularly women and girls of color, this election season and beyond. YWCA Spokane joins our parent organization, YWCA USA and local organizations across the country to encourage robust, diverse voter participation during each election.
We are especially committed to doing our part to make sure women get to the polls, and that our experiences and needs are valued, represented, and prioritized to those who represent us in elected office. Voting is critical to ensure a healthy, safe, and empowered future for us, our families, and our communities.
Use Your Voice
여러분의 목소리는 힘이 있으며 지역 사회와 전국에 놀라운 영향을 미칠 수 있습니다.
Contact Your Legislators
Contact your local representatives and share your voice about important issues that impact you, your family, and the families served by your community.
Report Hate Crimes
Report hate crimes and incidents through the Spokane County Human Rights Taskforce reporting tool.
Learn more about hate bias here.
Additional Information
Survivors of intimate partner domestic violence may face barriers to voting due to safety and confidentiality concerns. Voter information, including home addresses, is public record and accessible to the general public. However, survivors can register to vote while keeping their addresses confidential through the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) in Washington state.
The ACP provides survivors with a substitute address and public records protection, allowing them to participate in elections without compromising their confidentiality. To register for the ACP, survivors must meet with a certified application assistant, such as those at YWCA Spokane. Appointments can be made by calling the front desk at 509-326-1190.
Once approved for the ACP, participants will receive Protected Registered Voter registration paperwork and ACP-specific voting forms. It is important for ACP participants to avoid registering to vote online or at government offices, as this would make their address public. Instead, they must follow the ACP process and meet the same voting deadlines as the general public.
Survivors may need to register to vote in person with their local election office, depending on when they enroll in the ACP. Advocates at YWCA Spokane can assist survivors in navigating this process while also considering their safety and confidentiality concerns.
** Note: The Address Confidentiality Program cannot remove information already in public records. It is safest for a survivor to enroll after moving away from an address known to their abuser or already in public record. Advocates can assist with these concerns.**
We advocate for practical solutions that advance our intersectional mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.
We call on local, state, and national legislators and people in positions of power to act on the following priorities:
- Racial and Social Justice
- Economic Security and healthcare
- Safety from Gender Based Violence
- Voting Rights and Access.
Since 1858, YWCA USA has been at the forefront of the biggest issues of the day. From voting rights to civil rights, affordable housing to pay equity, violence prevention to health care reform, we’ve been there along the way. We carry on this long tradition of social action and advocacy to advance our mission — and you are a crucial part of this work. Your voice is critical as we advocate for policies that bring us closer to eliminating racism, empowering women, and ensuring peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
Learn more about the national YWCA USA advocacy agenda and legislative priorities.
YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. Join the movement for racial justice with YWCA and hundreds of thousands of people across the country in advancing justice — until justice just is.