Washington County 2026 Election Guide: Ballot Dates, Drop Boxes, Early Voting & What's on the Ballot

Updated November 1, 2026: Early in-person voting has ended. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, the Dixie Convention Center and the Hurricane Community Center are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. A mailed ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on November 3, so use a drop box instead of the mail. Results timing is covered in When and Where Will Results Be Posted? Voting in Cedar City or elsewhere in Iron County? See our Iron County voting guide.

Washington County Election 2026: Key Dates at a Glance

The 2026 general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Utah votes mainly by mail, and the state lists October 13 as the day ballots go out. Washington County voters will pick a member of Congress, state legislators, two county commissioners and school board members, and will vote on two constitutional amendments. In Santa Clara, Virgin and Washington City, there are also local sales tax questions. The one thing that changed since the last midterm: a mailed ballot must now arrive by 8 p.m. on Election Day. A postmark no longer counts.

How to Register or Check Your Registration

Go to vote.utah.gov to check your registration, update your address or register for the first time. The deadline to register and still receive a mail ballot was Friday, October 23, at 5 p.m. If you are not registered, the state calendar says same-day registration is available in person at a vote center on Election Day, and the state lists two acceptable forms of ID, one that verifies identity and one for proof of residence. The county's early voting notice says registration by provisional ballot is also available at the early voting centers.

New to the area? Thousands of people move to Washington County every year (see our population growth report). If you came from another state, you have to register in Utah. Your old registration doesn't carry over.

Returning Your Ballot: The New Rules

• Received, not postmarked. Under H.B. 300 (2025), a mailed ballot counts only if the election officer receives it by 8 p.m. on Election Day; the old postmark language was struck. This close to Election Day, skip the mailbox and use a drop box.
• ID digits on the envelope. The return envelope has a place for the last four digits of your Utah driver license number, Utah state ID card number or Social Security number.
• Sign the envelope. If your signature does not match your voter record, the state says you will be notified and can submit a cure affidavit.
• Drop boxes close at 8 p.m. The state says a drop-box ballot must be in before 8 p.m. on Election Day, and the county says ballots will not be accepted after 8 p.m.

Washington County Ballot Drop Boxes

Official 24-hour drop boxes (nothing is accepted after 8 p.m. on November 3):

• Drive-up: Dixie Convention Center in St. George, the Hurricane branch library, the Santa Clara branch library and the St. George branch library
• Walk-up: Washington City Library, and the County Administration Building, 111 E. Tabernacle St., St. George

City and town halls also have municipal drop boxes, but most are only open during business hours. Washington City's box is the 24-hour walk-up at the library, 220 N 300 E.

Early Voting Schedule (Oct 27-30)

Valid voter identification is required. The state accepts either one valid, unexpired photo ID (such as a Utah driver license, passport or state ID card) or two documents that together show your name and current residence. On Election Day, November 3, the county lists two vote centers, the Dixie Convention Center and the Hurricane Community Center (63 S. 100 W.), open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Electronic marking devices for voters with sight or mobility needs are available at each vote center. See the county's vote center page.

What's on the Washington County Ballot

This list comes from the county clerk's official certification of candidates. Your ballot depends on where you live, so check your own sample ballot on vote.utah.gov.

Federal and state races

• U.S. House, District 3: Celeste Maloy (R), Kent S. Udell (D), Cassie Easley (Constitution), Michael R. Stoddard (Libertarian), Ayden Scott (unaffiliated), Adonis Hooslyn (unaffiliated)
• State Senate, District 28: Evan J. Vickers (R), Richard S. Robillard (D)
• State House, District 72: Joseph Elison (R), Eva M. Weldon (D), April A. Pinkston (Constitution)
• State House, District 73: Colin W. Jack (R), Glenn D. Webb (D)
• State House, District 74: R. Neil Walter (R), Jeffrey N. Lipe (D)
• State House, District 75: Walt Brooks (R), Rebecca Winsor (D)

County races

• County Commission, Seat A: Gil Almquist (R), Gail Koske (D)
• County Commission, Seat B: Troy G. Belliston (R), Sarah N. Anderson (D), Kristin N. Isham (Constitution)
• County Attorney: Jerry D. Jaeger (R), Edward Flint (D)
• Clerk/Auditor: Ryan Sullivan (R), unopposed
• Sheriff: Johnny Heppler (R), unopposed

Washington County School Board

District 5 is contested: Dan C. Zaleski and David B. Stirland. LaRene Cox (District 4), Burke Staheli (District 6) and N. Craig Hammer (District 7) are on the ballot unopposed.

Judges

Voters decide whether to retain Utah Supreme Court Justice Jill M. Pohlman, six Court of Appeals judges, Fifth District Court Judges Jay Winward and Eric Russell Gentry, and, in Santa Clara, Justice Court Judge K. Jake Graff. The county's sample ballot marks the retention question for Fifth District Court Judge Matthew L. Bell as "WITHDRAWN." The Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission's recommendations for each judge are at judges.utah.gov.

Constitutional amendments

The Washington County sample ballot lists no statewide citizen initiatives. The Legislature put two constitutional amendments on it:

• Amendment A asks whether proposed constitutional amendments should be published for 60 days before the general election in a manner set by state law, instead of in newspapers. If it passes, state law would have the Lieutenant Governor publish the full text on the Utah Public Notice Website and the Lieutenant Governor's website. The state pamphlet estimates it could reduce state costs by up to $1.4 million every two years.
• Amendment B asks whether citizen-proposed laws that increase taxes must be approved by at least 60% of voters instead of a simple majority. According to the state's impartial analysis, it would apply to statewide initiatives voted on after November 1, 2026, that create a new tax, expand a tax, raise a tax rate, or change a property tax rate so it falls less than it would under current law.

The state's voter information pamphlet pages for Amendment A and Amendment B include the official arguments for and against each one.

Local sales tax questions

• Proposition 3, Santa Clara (Santa Clara voters only): asks whether the city may impose a local sales and use tax of up to 1.0% to fund emergency services, including fire protection, ambulance services, emergency medical services, personnel, equipment and facilities. The city's information page says it would be in addition to existing sales taxes, would not replace current city funding sources, and would last 10 years, after which continuing it would need new voter approval. At 1%, a $100 taxable purchase would add $1. The city says the money would support Santa Clara-Ivins Fire & Rescue. See the city's election information page.
• Proposition 4, Virgin (Virgin voters only): asks whether Virgin should raise its resort communities sales and use tax by an additional 0.5%. The Town Council called the election by resolution on July 21, 2026. The town's information page says the added 0.5% would raise about $150,000 a year for general town services.
• Proposition 5, Washington City: an additional 0.67% emergency services sales tax, for 1.0% in total. The city council has said it plans to cut the city's share of property tax by half if the tax passes. See Washington City Prop 5 explained for the ballot language and the numbers.

St. George isn't voting on its new emergency services tax, because the city council adopted it on October 1. Hurricane's lease revenue and electric revenue bonds are not on the ballot either; the council approves them after public hearings. See St. George passes 0.33% emergency services sales tax.

When and Where Will Results Be Posted?

Polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3. Washington County says ballot processing runs on Election Day "until polls close and preliminary results are available," but the county does not publish a time for the first release. Results posted that night are preliminary. Utah's official election results site is electionresults.utah.gov, and the Washington County Clerk's elections page carries county notices.

Results become official after the canvass, the formal review of election returns. Under the state's 2026 election calendar, a county board of canvassers may canvass the final results starting Tuesday, November 10, and must finish by Tuesday, November 17. The statewide canvass is scheduled for Monday, November 23. The county had not posted its own canvass date as of October 29.

• Ballot processing: the Clerk's office processes ballots October 19 through November 16, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. as needed, at the Administration Building, 111 E. Tabernacle St.
• Post-election equipment test: Monday, November 9, at noon, at the same building.
• Provisional ballots: a voter who voted provisionally without ID has until Monday, November 9, to provide it.
• Track your ballot: vote.utah.gov/track-my-ballot.

Who to Contact

Washington County Elections: 435-301-7248 or elections@washco.utah.gov. The Clerk's office is in the County Administration Building at 111 E. Tabernacle St. in St. George.

Veterans Day follows on Wednesday, November 11. See our Veterans Day 2026 events guide and the full November 2026 calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2026 general election in Washington County, Utah?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Vote centers are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Utah votes mainly by mail, and the state lists October 13 as the day ballots go out.

Can I still register to vote in Utah for the 2026 general election?

The deadline to register and still receive a mail ballot was Friday, October 23, 2026, at 5 p.m. You can still register in person at a vote center, including on Election Day, November 3, and vote a provisional ballot. Bring two acceptable forms of ID, one that verifies your identity and one for proof of residence. Check your status at vote.utah.gov.

Can I still postmark my ballot on Election Day?

No. Under Utah's 2025 election law (HB 300), a mailed ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. A postmark no longer counts. If it's late in the week, use an official drop box instead of the mail.

Where are the ballot drop boxes in Washington County?

Washington County has 24-hour drive-up drop boxes at the Dixie Convention Center and at the Hurricane, Santa Clara and St. George branch libraries. There are 24-hour walk-up boxes at the Washington City Library and the County Administration Building at 111 E. Tabernacle in St. George. Municipal drop boxes are open only during business hours.

Where was early voting in Washington County?

Early in-person voting ran October 27-30, 2026, at the Dixie Convention Center (1835 Convention Center Dr., St. George) and the Hurricane Community Center (63 S. 100 W.). Hours alternate between 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and noon-4 p.m. Valid voter ID is required.

What local propositions are on the 2026 Washington County ballot?

Three cities have sales tax questions, each for that city's voters only. Proposition 3: Santa Clara voters decide on a sales tax of up to 1.0% for emergency services. Proposition 4: Virgin voters decide on an additional 0.5% resort communities sales tax. Proposition 5: Washington City voters decide on an additional 0.67% emergency services sales tax, which would bring the total to 1.0%, paired with the City Council's stated intent to cut the city's share of property tax by 50%.

When will Washington County election results be posted, and when are they official?

Preliminary results are expected after the polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The county does not publish a time for the first release. Results are official after the canvass: under the state election calendar, county boards of canvassers may canvass starting November 10 and must finish by November 17, and the statewide canvass is November 23. Results are posted at electionresults.utah.gov. Questions: Washington County Elections, 435-301-7248.

Sources: Washington County Clerk, Elections; Certification of County Candidates; Early Voting Notice; Vote center and drop box locations; vote.utah.gov; Washington County sample ballot; Election Notice; Ballot processing schedule; 2026 Utah Election Calendar; H.B. 300 (2025), enrolled; Santa Clara Prop 3 information; Virgin Prop 4 information. SGWOM does not endorse candidates or ballot measures.