Calendar of key election dates

Note to voters: This time you'll be carded

To vote at the polls in the Sept. 20 primary, you will, for the first time, be asked to present a piece of identification -- for example, a driver's license, voter-registration card, a student ID card, paycheck or utility bill. If you don't have ID, your ballot will considered a provisional one and elections workers will have to match signatures before it is counted. Last fall's razor-thin margin in the governor's race prompted the Legislature to approve the change.

Sept. 19

• Last day to pick up absentee ballot for the primary.

• Deadline to file write-in candidacies for the primary.

Sept. 20

• Primary day; polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots, to be counted, must be postmarked no later than today.

Sept. 30

• Primary to be certified by the canvassing board.

Oct. 8

• Last day to transfer voter registration or mail in registration to vote in the Nov. 8 general election. After today, voters have until Oct. 24 to register, but must do so in person at county elections offices.

Oct. 19

• Mailing of absentee ballots for the Nov. 8 general election expected to begin. Absentee ballots for the general election also available, starting today, at the elections office counter.

Oct. 24

• Last day to register to vote in Nov. 8 general election. Must do so in person at your elections office.

Nov. 7

• Deadline to pick up absentee ballot for the Nov. 8 election.

• Last day to file write-in candidacies for the general election.

Nov. 8

• Election Day; polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots, to be counted, must be postmarked no later than today.

Dec. 1

• General election to be certified by the canvassing board.

Dec. 8

• Deadline for Washington Secretary of State to certify state's general election results. State measures receiving a favorable majority vote are declared law by the governor unless the effective date is included in the text of the measure.