Washington’s General Election voting season is underway, with counties sending ballots to more than 72,000 military and overseas voters across the globe.

Federal law provides extra transit time for military and overseas voters, with counties required to send out ballots 45 days before Election Day. This year, those ballots had to be out the door by Sept. 24.

The rest of Washington’s 4.1 million voters will be mailed ballots in roughly four weeks. Counties will send out ballot packets Oct. 19-Oct. 21.

To count, ballots must be returned by Nov. 8, either via the free drop box or by mail with a Nov. 8 postmark.