Monday deadline to register to vote in presidential primary

By Evan Smith

Monday, April 25, is the last day before the May 24 presidential primary election for voters to register online or by mail or to update an existing registration.

New Washington voters may register through May 16, but after Monday, they must register in person at either the King County Elections Office in Renton or the county elections Voter Registration Annex in the County Administration Building in downtown Seattle.

Voters register online. Mail registration forms are available at the election office, 919 SW Grady Way, Renton; at the elections annex, 500 4th Avenue, Room 440, Seattle; at any local library; or at some other government offices. Forms also are available online.

In-person registration is at either elections office (Renton or Seattle).

Ballots will be mailed to most voters May 5. Elections officials mailed ballots to military and overseas voters April 8.

Presidential primary results will determine how Washington delegates will vote on the first ballot at the Republican National Presidential nominating convention this summer in Cleveland. The actual delegates, who will be bound to a candidate for only the first ballot, get chosen at the state Republican convention.

The presidential primary ballot will have both a Republican section and a Democratic section, but the Democratic ballot will have no effect. Washington Democrats determine their presidential delegates through caucuses and conventions.

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.