Washington has been a vote-by-mail state for decades. Ballots are mailed to voters about three weeks before Election day. No postage is required to mail them back, and they must be postmarked by 8 pm on Election Day. Many voters choose to return their ballots to secure ballot drop boxes maintained by the County Auditor’s Office — this saves the county money and ensures ballots will be received directly by the county for counting on Election Day.