Showing posts with label elections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elections. Show all posts

National Voter Registration Day September 17

Wednesday, September 18, 2024


OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State invites Washingtonians to join the nationwide celebration of National Voter Registration Day (NVRD).

Eligible Washingtonians can easily register to vote or check their voter registration by visiting VoteWA.gov

To participate in the November 5 General Election, online or mailed registrations must be received by October 28, 2024. 

People can also register or update their information in person at a county elections office or voting center (Kenmore City Hall) until 8pm Election Day, November 5.

The Office of the Secretary of State will also be on hand to register voters at Tuesday’s Seattle Storm game.



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State Representatives Davina Duerr and Shelley Kloba to host community discussion on Initiative 2124 and the Washington Cares Act Sept 18, 2024

Saturday, September 14, 2024


On Wednesday, September 18, 2024 1st Legislative District State Representatives Davina Duerr and Shelley Kloba, along with other local leaders, will host a community discussion on Initiative 2124 and the Washington Cares Act.

With the general election just a couple of months away, it's up to us to shape the future of long-term care in Washington! 

This event is for anyone interested in learning more about the initiative, understanding its potential impact, and having their questions answered. 

WHEN: Wednesday, September 18th, from 6:30 - 7:30pm

If you require ADA-related accommodations for this event, please email bass@votekloba.com as soon as possible.



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Recount completed for Lands Commissioner and election certified after closest vote in state history

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Democrat Dave Upthegrove will meet 
Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 
November election after a statewide recount
OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State certified results of the mandatory statewide manual recount Wednesday for the August 6, 2024 Primary race for Commissioner of Public Lands, confirming Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler and Democrat Dave Upthegrove will advance to the November General Election.

The recount indicated a 49-vote margin separating second-place finisher Upthegrove from Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson, who finished third in the contest. 

The margin originally stood at 51 votes. After consolidating the amended results certified by each county canvassing board, Upthegrove gained four votes and Pederson gained six votes.

Variances, such as an overvote or undervote were identified during the manual recount which led to the overall change in the count. These discrepancies were a result of careful examination of voter intent on some ballots. 

The Office of the Secretary of State and counties within Washington use the established Statewide Standards on What is a Vote, a longstanding standard for determining voter intent when voters’ ballot markings are unclear.

“This recount was a significant undertaking that required meticulous attention to detail to ensure every vote was counted fairly and accurately,” Assistant Secretary of State Kevin McMahan said.
“It demonstrates the accuracy and reliability of Washington’s elections, as the vote counting equipment tabulated votes correctly, with the few variances arising from questions about voter intent. I commend all counties for their diligent efforts in conducting a transparent and secure process that reflects the will of the voters.”

Recount results and more information are available on the Office of the Secretary of State’s Elections website. Ballots for the Nov. 5 General Election will be mailed to voters by Friday, Oct. 18.


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Elections: Was King county elections able to read your signature

Friday, August 23, 2024

I voted - and my ballot
was counted
By Diane Hettrick

You did your civic duty and voted, getting your ballot in on time.

But let me ask you this: did you provide contact information (email / phone numbers) on the ballot envelope?

And more importantly, do you know if King County elections was able to verify your signature?

People's signatures change over time. Or perhaps, like my husband, you have a difficult signature. His ballot has been kicked out twice in the past decade. 

The first time we received a notice in the mail with a form to submit. After that, we took the option of having two people co-sign his ballot envelope.

King county elections has gotten more refined since then. Now we have signed up for ballot alerts.

At My Voter Information we provided basic information - first name, last name, birth date, house number - and you can skip one of the fields.

Click the button - the first thing it says: "We got your ballot - check the ballot tracker tab for more information"


The ballot tracker offers this:
Sign up for ballot status alerts or update your subscription information
Opt in for text or email alerts as your ballot is processed and counted.

Since we had already signed up, we got text messages telling us when our ballot was received, when the signature was verified, and when it was counted. 

Now we can relax and watch the recount for the Lands Commissioner race. With 51 ballots separating candidates for second place and a spot on the November ballot, every vote does count. In Shoreline there are two positions for precinct committee officer which are being recounted.

When you check your ballot status and discover that there was a problem with your signature, you have until Monday to "cure" your ballot and have it counted.


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Office of the Secretary of State certifies August 6 Primary results, directs hand recount for Commissioner of Public Lands race


OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State certified the August 6 Primary results Thursday and directed a mandatory manual recount of all votes for the statewide Commissioner of Public Lands race. 
County election offices are estimating the recount will take seven business days to complete.

In the 2024 Commissioner of Public Lands primary contest, Democrat Dave Upthegrove defeated Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson for second place 396,300 votes to 396,249 votes — a difference of 51 (0.0064%). 

The candidate with the second-most votes following the statewide recount will join Jamie Herrera Beutler, a Republican and the race’s top vote-getter, on the November 5 General Election ballot.

The race is the closest statewide race in the history of Washington’s primary, exceeding the 1960 superintendent of public instruction primary where A. T. Van Devanter and Harold L. Anderson were separated by 252 votes.

“The mandatory recount underscores the importance of every vote and reaffirms the commitment of our county election officials to ensuring accurate election results. We ask for everyone's patience as county election officials administer the manual recount to ensure that the intent of every voter is accurately heard.”

Each of Washington’s 39 county canvassing boards will determine the date and time of the recount. Counties will review all ballots for the race, including overvotes, undervotes, and write-ins. After counties have completed their recounts, OSOS will certify the recounted results. The state will reimburse each county for all costs associated with this mandatory recount under RCW 29A.64.081.

Manual recounts, otherwise known as hand recounts, of statewide races are required when the difference between the candidates is less than one-quarter of 1% of the total votes cast for both candidates and also less than 1,000 votes.

Additional recount information can be found on the Office of the Secretary of State Elections website.

More than 1.9 million Washingtonians participated in the Primary, a 40.9% turnout of the state’s 4.8 million registered voters. Races on voters’ ballots included statewide executives, congressional positions, state legislators, Washington Supreme Court and Superior Court seats, and many local offices and measures.


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Nine minor party presidential candidates will appear on Washington's November ballot

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Running for President - Nirvana co-founder
Krist Novoselić (right) of the Cascade Party
with his running mate James Carroll
OLYMPIA — Nine presidential nominations by minor parties and independent candidates have qualified to appear on Washington’s Nov. 5 General Election ballot.

Including nominees from the two major political parties, Washington voters will be able to choose from 11 pairs of nominees for president and vice president on the November ballot.

To qualify for the General Election ballot, a minor party or independent candidate must obtain 1,000 signatures from registered Washington voters who have not signed another party’s nominating petition. 

These voters must attend a state convention held in support of the party or candidate. 

Conventions may only be during a specific period, from the first Saturday in May to the last Saturday in July. 

Appeal of any qualification must be filed with the Thurston County Superior Court no later than five days after notification.

Ballot order of presidential tickets for the General Election begins with the two major political parties, listed in order of the most votes received in Washington’s last presidential election, under RCW 29A.36.161. Other candidates follow in order of qualification.

Minor party and independent candidates for president will appear on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot as follows, with the Presidential nominee listed first and Vice Presidential nominee listed second:

  • We The People Party; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Nicole Shanahan
  • Green Party; Jill Stein, Samson LeBeau Kpadenou
  • Socialism and Liberation Party; Claudia De la Cruz, Karina Garcia
  • Socialist Workers Party; Rachele Fruit, Dennis Richter
  • Socialist Equality Party; Joseph Kishore, Jerry White
  • Libertarian Party; Chase Oliver, Mike ter Maat
  • Cascade Party; Krist Novoselić, James Carroll
  • Justice For All Party; Cornel West, Melina Abdullah
  • Independent Candidate; Shiva Ayyadurai, Crystal Ellis
Ballots will be mailed to registered voters statewide by October 18.

“Every election is a chance for every Washingtonian’s voice to be heard,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “I encourage all voters to use the state’s comprehensive system of trustworthy resources to participate in this election.”


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Shoreline and Lake Forest Park oppose initiative to repeal Climate Commitment Act

Sunday, August 11, 2024

A rendering from Shoreline’s website shows the planned 148th Street Non-Motorized bridge that is partially funded by funds from the Climate Commitment Act


At the Monday, August 5, 2024 meeting, the Shoreline city council unanimously voted to oppose Initiative 2117 that would repeal Washington state’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). 

And at the Thursday, August 08 meeting, the Lake Forest Park city council also voted to oppose the initiative. In doing so, the cities joined the Kenmore city council who also unanimously opposed the initiative.

Passed by the legislature in 2021, the CCA established a market-based program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by auctioning credits to polluters. The revenue from the sales are invested in programs to transition the state away from dependence on fossil fuels.

In 2023, the state collected $1.8 billion of which Shoreline received $10 million to partially fund for the 148th Street Non-Motorized Bridge project. 

Kenmore, like other cities in the state, expects to receive millions of dollars in CCA funds - including money for new sidewalks by Moorlands elementary school as well as funds for EV charging infrastructure and urban forestry.


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Op-Ed: Washington State Voters Need Accessible Voting Options


I am legally blind. I am unable to see the writing on a paper ballot. My options for voting independently and anonymously are limited.

In Washington, we have a vote-by-mail system. You get your ballot mailed to you. You mark your ballot, and you can mail it back or place it in a drop box. Visually impaired voters cannot vote this way.

For voters who are blind or have low vision, voting is not easy, and, at times, it is impossible.

There are some limited options.

You can choose a trusted person to fill out your ballot and help guide you to the signature line. However, there is no way to verify your choices were honored. Plus, your voting choices are not anonymous using this method.

You can go to your local polling center and use an accessible voting unit (AVU). This device will read to you the information on the ballot and allow you to make a selection on the computerized screen. The elections officials will then print off the ballot so that a paper ballot exists per Washington state law. 

All you need to do as a visually impaired voter is find a ride to your polling center during business hours, hope that someone in the office is trained to use the AVU and find a ride back home. 

Using Paratransit for transportation will likely take 3 or more hours round trip. Of course, you need to pre-schedule your ride at least three days in advance to vote since same-day trips are not possible. Paratransit is not like calling Uber.

In some counties such as King County, you can mark your ballot using screen reading technology on your computer. However, you then must print out your ballot, figure out where to sign it and then mail your ballot. Who owns a private printer these days?

Visually impaired voters in Washington state continue to be disenfranchised. We have submitted legislation to establish an accessible voting portal that was blocked by Common Cause, The League of Women Voters, Free Speech for People and representatives from the Secretary of State office. 

We have tried working directly with the Secretary of State to solve transportation issues, inadequate access to AVUs and other issues. We still have no resolution to our ongoing needs.

So, we are now making this issue public. We are asking you to help us move forward.

Are you appalled that in 2024, disabled voters are struggling to be able to vote as is our constitutional right? Send an email to secretaryofstate@sos.wa.gov. Let Secretary Steve Hobbs know that establishing an accessible voting portal for visually impaired voters tis the right thing to do.

If you want to reach out to members of the Washington Council of the Blind on this issue, please contact us atwcb.voting.issues@gmail.com.

We appreciate your support in this important voting year.

Judy Brown
Chair of Government Affairs
Washington Council of the Blind


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Initial election results August 6, 2024

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Note that reported results are unofficial until certified by the county election boards on August 20, 2024. The Secretary of State certifies final results by August 23, 2024.

The top 2 advance to the general election in November. Races marked with an asterisk* have only one or two candidates so both are guaranteed a spot on the general election now.

Listed are the top two or three in each race as of the first results. Some of these names could change, depending on when individual counties process their ballots and turn them in to the state.

August 6, 2024 results - a million votes counted

Federal

Senator
  • Sen. Maria Cantwell 58% 
  • Dr. Raul Garcia 21%

State

Governor
  • Bob Ferguson 45%
  • Dave Reichert 30%

Lt. Governor
  • Denny Heck 49%
  • Dan Matthews 22%

Secretary of State
  • Steve Hobbs 49%
  • Dale Whitaker 37%

State Treasurer*
  • Mike Pellicciotti 59%
  • Sharon Hanek 41%

State Auditor*
  • Pat (Patrice) McCarthy 59%
  • Matt Hawkins 41%

Attorney General
  • Pete Serrano 42%
  • Nick Brown 36%

Commissioner of Public Lands
  • Jaime Herrera Beutler 22.64%
  • Sue Kuehl Pederson 20.26%
  • Dave Upthegrove 19.85%

Superintendent of Public Instruction
  • Chris Reykdal 40%
  • David Olson 31%

Insurance Commissioner
  • Patty Kuderer 45%
  • Phil Fortunato 28%

Congressional Districts

1st District
  • Suzan DelBene 64%
  • Orion Webster 9.77%
  • Jeb Brewer 9.39%

7th District
  • Pramila Jayapal 78%
  • Dan Alexander 8.82%
  • Liz Hallock 7.82%

9th District
  • Adam Smith 56%
  • Paul Martin 18.92%
  • Melissa Chaudhry 17.73%

State Legislative Districts

Legislative District 1

State Senator*
  • Derek Stanford 96%

State Representative Pos. 1*
  • Davina Duerr 72%
  • Mark Davies 28%

State Representative Pos. 2*
  • Shelley Kloba 96%

Legislative District 32 

State Representative Pos. 1*
  • Cindy Ryu 75%
  • Lisa Rezac 25%

State Representative Pos. 2
  • Lauren Davis 69%
  • Lori Theis 25%

Legislative District 46 

State Representative Pos. 1
  • Gerry Pollet 82%
  • Beth Daranciang 11%

State Representative Pos. 2*
  • Darya Farivar 87%
  • Simone Barron 12%


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Don't forget to vote TODAY - Tuesday August 6, 2024

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

The Primary Election is TODAY!


If you haven’t turned in your ballot already, turn it in by 8pm to a ballot drop box near you.

If you're unable to get to a drop box, pop it in an outgoing mailbox before the box's last pickup time so that it's postmarked TODAY.



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Ballots are slow to come in for the primary election

Monday, August 5, 2024

Ballot drop box at 192nd & Aurora Park & Ride
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Less than 11% of the state’s nearly 4.9 million registered voters had returned their ballot as of Tuesday, July 29, 2024 according to data on the secretary of state’s website.
 
Mason County topped all counties with 19.2% turnout. King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Clark counties – four of the most populous in the state – were all at or below 10%.

Washington’s electorate may be moving slowly given the stakes and their role in narrowing the field to two finalists who will meet in the November general election.

For example, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat, faces 10 opponents in her bid for re-election with Republican Raul Garcia viewed as the toughest challenger in the crowd

And 28 people are running to succeed Gov. Jay Inslee who is exiting after three terms. Of those, Democrats Bob Ferguson and Mark Mullet and Republicans Dave Reichert and Semi Bird are the frontrunners.

There also are races for eight other statewide executive posts and all 10 of Washington’s congressional districts.

On Tuesday, the secretary of state reported 522,899 ballots returned, or 10.7% of the state’s registered voters. Ballot return figures were updated at 5pm Tuesday.

--Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard


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What’s the cost if WA voters erase capital gains tax, end cap-and-trade?

Sunday, August 4, 2024

These boxes contain signed petitions for Initiative 2109, a measure to repeal Washington state’s capital gains tax. It will be on ballots in November 2024. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

Analyses bound for the state’s voter pamphlet examine the financial effects of Initiative 2109 and Initiative 2117 passing this fall.

A pair of new reports outline financial consequences if voters approve ballot measures this fall repealing Washington’s capital gains tax and scrapping its cap-and-trade program.

Passing the initiatives will dry up significant streams of revenue the state government is counting on for programs ranging from child care and early learning to electric vehicles and clean energy research.

But the amounts at risk with Initiative 2109 dealing with the capital gains tax, and Initiative 2117 concerning the Climate Commitment Act, differ from forecasts presented to lawmakers in February.

And, in the case of the capital gains tax, it’s billions of dollars less.

That’s according to analyses for each measure prepared by the Office of Financial Management, which is required by state law to write statements of fiscal impacts for initiatives. The statements are posted online and will appear in the voter’s guide for the Nov. 5 election.

OFM’s analysis for Initiative 2124 to make Washington’s long-term care benefit voluntary came out in early July.

Each statement is written in as plain and neutral language as possible. OFM’s examination of Initiative 2109 is just over three pages while Initiative 2117’s spans 15 pages, an indication of how interwoven it is to the state’s operating, capital and transportation budgets.

Initiative 2109

This measure takes aim at the capital gains tax,which lawmakers approved in 2021 and the state Supreme Court upheld in 2022.

It generated about $786 million in 2023, its first year of collections. As of May 15, collections in 2024 totaled $433 million. To put those numbers into perspective, the state’s current two-year operating budget is nearly $72 billion.

Each year, up to $500 million from the tax is deposited into a state account for K-12 schools, colleges, early learning and child care programs. Any tax collections beyond that amount go to an account that helps pay for school construction and renovations.

In its fiscal impact statement, OFM estimates passing the measure will result in a loss of $2.2 billion for the Education Legacy Trust Account over five fiscal years: $424 million in the current year that ends June 30, 2025 and $1.78 billion over the ensuing four years. It will net less than $500 million in each year.

It is a stark contrast from February when a fiscal note provided to lawmakers estimated a loss of $5.6 billion in the same five-year period.

Money in the Education Legacy Trust Account supports K-12 education, expands access to higher education and provides funding for early learning and child care programs, according to the report. The fiscal analysis does not cite any specific program at risk of losing revenue if the measure passes.

Initiative opponents say if the tax goes away it will worsen child care and education funding crises, and put pressure on lawmakers to make up the lost revenue with new taxes.

Backers of the measure, however, say the state collects enough revenue to pay for education and child care without a capital gains tax. And they note it’s a volatile form of revenue, prone to up and down swings, especially during recessions.

In the meantime, the fiscal impact statement projects state agencies will save an estimated $10.1 million over five years as a result of the initiative.

The Department of Revenue, which administers the tax, would save money as it winds down the program. The attorney general’s office anticipates some savings due to less litigation and less time spent advising the Department of Revenue.

Initiative 2117

OFM’s analysis for Initiative 2117 – which repeals the Climate Commitment Act and ends the auction of carbon emission allowances – is lengthy.

That’s because auctions, which began in February 2023, have generated $2.15 billion in revenue to date and lawmakers have spent some in all three of the state government’s budgets, according to the report. For example, $150 million will cover the cost of providing a $200 credit on electricity bills of hundreds of thousands of households by mid-September.

The next scheduled auction is Sept. 4 and would be the last if the initiative passes. Three remaining auctions scheduled in the current fiscal year would be canceled resulting in a projected revenue loss of $758 million through June 30, 2025.

Overall, the state would lose out on $3.8 billion in proceeds from auctions between December, when the measure would take effect, and June 30, 2029.

Initiative 2117 eliminates five accounts created under the Climate Commitment Act and directs the remaining funds to be transferred to two new accounts.

Thirty-seven state agencies have spending authority from Climate Commitment Act funds in the current biennium for programs, projects, and as grants for local governments, community groups, school districts and tribes. The initiative would eliminate the revenue source that pays for these programs.

State lawmakers prepared for this possibility in this year’s legislative session by delaying spending for certain programs until Jan. 1 when the fate of the ballot measure is known.

For each of the various accounts, the fiscal impact statement itemizes “significant activities” that would be eliminated in the current fiscal year and “future impacts” as a result of losing out on money counted on from auctions.

Examples of projects and programs that would see funding reduced or eliminated in the current budget include $42 million for construction of hybrid-electric ferries and electrification of ferry terminals; $29.9 million for public bus and transit facility projects; $5 million in grants for electric boats for federally recognized tribes, tribal enterprises and tribal members, and $1 million for transportation planning for the the 2026 World Cup matches to be played in Seattle.

Looking to the future, the state Department of Transportation would not get money it counted on to cover the cost of allowing those 18 and under to ride for free on state ferries and Amtrak. And funding penciled in for building new hybrid-electric ferries would not be realized.

Slimming or eliminating programs also means jobs will be cut. Overall, 318 full-time positions spread through more than a dozen agencies face elimination, per the report.


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Executive Dow Constantine and Elections Director Julie Wise urge King County voters to turn out in August 6 Primary Election

Thursday, August 1, 2024

RENTON – King County Executive Dow Constantine joined Director of Elections Julie Wise today at Election Headquarters in Renton to encourage every King County voter to make their voice heard in the August 6 Primary Election.

“While in many parts of the U.S. they are making it harder to vote, here in King County we’re committed to making it easier for voters to get their ballots in,” says Executive Constantine. 
“The Elections team has created new ways for voters to confirm their signature, expanded access to official drop boxes, and even added the coveted ‘I voted’ sticker to mailed ballots.
"Now, we need King County voters to stand up for democracy by making their voices heard during this Primary Election.”

King County Elections will open Vote Centers across the county this Saturday, August 2, Monday, August 5, and on Election Day for voters who still need to register to vote, get a replacement ballot, or use an accessible voting device.


Hours of operation
  • Saturday, August 3, 10:00am – 4:00pm
  • Monday, August 5, 8:30am – 6:00pm
  • Election Day, August 6, 8:30am – 8:00pm
“The team of trained, experienced election administrators is here to help you vote. They not only meet the letter of the law, but truly go the extra mile for our voters to make sure they have what they need to make their voice heard,” stated Director Julie Wise. 
“Your voice matters. We want to count your ballot. Vote it, sign your envelope, and be sure to return it by August 6!”

Voters are encouraged to use one of the 81 official drop box locations. Closing at 8pm sharp on Election Day, drop boxes are a secure and convenient way for voters to return their ballot and ensure it’s received as on-time. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, August 6.

Election Night results will be available after 8pm on August 6, and will be updated daily at 4pm until certification on August 20.


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Secretary of State’s office distributes $2 million to county elections offices to bolster security

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

King county elections workers
Photo courtesy King County Elections

OLYMPIA — In the second year of a statewide funding program to help counties improve their elections security, the Washington state Office of the Secretary of State has provided approximately $2 million to 30 elections offices statewide, with final calculations pending.

The program’s third year of funding is now open. As in prior years, each county’s elections office can receive up to $80,000 to pay for improvements to local election security.

“County election officials and employees around the state work hard to ensure our election systems are fair and secure,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “This additional funding will go a long way to bolster security efforts.”

Counties can use this funding to purchase or upgrade elections security software and hardware, hire IT security personnel, make structural improvements, and more. Among the county elections offices that received 2023-24 funds, notable uses included:
  • Snohomish County invested in monitoring devices, security measures for ballot drop boxes, building security, and upgraded cybersecurity measures and training.
“Voters in Snohomish County and across our state can continue to take pride in our fair and accurate elections,” Snohomish County Auditor Garth Fell said. 
“Our elections are supported by state and local government resources that help keep our elections security top-notch.”

Secretary Hobbs launched this program in November 2022. $1.57 million was awarded to 25 counties in the 2022-23 fiscal year.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to work closely with election officials to better protect our elections from cyber threats and other bad actors,” Secretary Hobbs said. “With each new election cycle, these threats continue to escalate in frequency and severity.”

To be eligible, a county must have an Albert sensor in operation to monitor its network for cyber threats and attacks. The deadline for county elections offices to apply is May 2, 2025.


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Make sure your vote is counted for the primary election

Monday, July 29, 2024

By Diane Hettrick

I dropped my ballot in the drop box at the 192nd Park n Ride on Sunday afternoon July 21, 2024. 

On Monday, I received a text alert that my ballot had been received. 

On Tuesday, another text alert told me that my signature had been verified and my ballot would be counted.

I expect another text when my ballot has been counted.

I filled out this form to be able to track my ballot.

Now I get to sit back and follow the rest of the process. For the rest of you, know this:

  • July 29: Online and mail registrations must be received 8 days before Election Day. Register to vote in person during business hours and any time before 8pm on Election Day.
  • August 6: Deadline for Washington State voter registration or updates (in person only).
  • There is an in-person Vote Center at Kenmore City Hall.
August 6 is Primary Election Day - Deposit your ballot in an official drop box by 8pm - not one second later!

Drop boxes: 
The purpose of the primary election is to choose the top 2 candidates in each race, who will go on to the general election in November. 


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Your ballot has been mailed - and other useful information about the primary election

Monday, July 22, 2024

Important information about the primary election
  • Ballots were mailed to registered voters ahead of the 18-day voting period that began July 19.
  • If you do not receive your ballot within 5 days, call King County Elections at 206-296-VOTE (8683).
To participate in the primary, you must be sure your ballot is postmarked or in a designated drop box by 8pm on August 6, 2024 - and not one minute later.

Local drop boxes:

Voters can register to vote online or by mail until July 29. After that, you can do so in person at a county election office up until 8pm on Election Day.

The top two vote-getters in primary races will advance to the November 5 general election.

The Washington State Standard published a Candidate questionnaire from Washington State Standard for all the major races.

The website Voting For Judges, which has been so very useful for past elections, is no longer in existence.

Sign up for King County Ballot Alerts to receive texts or emails as your ballot is processed and counted. This is very important to receive early notice if there is an issue with your signature.


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Voting begins Friday for Washington's August 6 Primary Election

Friday, July 19, 2024

King County Elections (KCE) has mailed nearly 1.4 million ballots for the August 6, 2024 Primary Election. KCE is projecting 40% turnout for this election.

Voters’ pamphlets, featuring statements from each candidate and about each measure, will also arrive in mail boxes this week. Voters can access a personalized voters’ guide on My Voter Information.

Voters will receive their ballots in the coming days and should have them by the Monday, July 22 mail delivery. 

Voters who have not received their ballots by Monday can call King County Elections at 206-296-VOTE (8683).

For the first time since moving to vote-by-mail fifteen years ago, KCE is sending I Voted stickers directly to each voter right inside their ballot packet.

Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, August 6, or returned to one of the 81 official drop box locations across the county. Drop boxes are open 24-hours, seven days a week, until 8pm sharp on Election Day.

The deadline to register to vote online is July 29. Voters can register and vote through 8 p.m. on Election Day at any of KCE’s Vote Center locations.

All voters are encouraged to track their ballot to make sure their voice heard. Voters can also sign up for ballot alerts to receive text and email notifications about their ballot status from when it’s mailed to when it’s verified and counted by King County Elections. Simply opt in online through KCE’s ballot tracker.


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Attack websites seep into WA election battles

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

SaveOurYachts.com

By Jerry Cornfield in the Washington State Standard

Bob Ferguson, Semi Bird, Jim Henderson and Brian Heywood have something in common this election season in Washington.

Their political opponents have built websites to spread unflattering information – and in some cases misinformation – about them.

There’s “BobforBob” looking into Ferguson’s political history and “bird-docs.com” digging into Bird’s past personal tribulations. “Save Our Yachts” jabs the wealthy Heywood for pushing an initiative to repeal the capital gains tax and “realjimhenderson” is an attack by Republicans on a first-time GOP candidate for legislative office.

These creations aren’t expected to go viral or significantly alter the trajectory of any of the ballot battles but are viewed by their creators as a tool to educate, and maybe sway, a few voters.

“They are very much fodder for people looking to use negatives to put a partisan in their place,” said Cathy Allen, owner of The Connections Group and veteran Democrat campaign consultant.

Take BobforBob.com. It delves into a select few pieces of the political record of Ferguson, the three-term Democrat attorney general running for governor. Links to and excerpts from news accounts fill the site. It is not flashy and is laid out a bit like a research paper.

But make no mistake, it’s packed with jabs.

“Previously, Ferguson worked as Attorney General of Washington suing small-business owners, withholding evidence, waging lawfare, and extorting corporations for campaign donations,” is the opening line.

Peter Graves of Axiom Strategies, the Republican consulting firm behind BobforBob.com, said ideally it will be one of the first websites to show up when someone searches for background on Ferguson.

“The goal here is to obviously get out information about Bob Ferguson and for the research to be used to help others make decisions,” he said.

Bayley Burgess, Ferguson’s campaign manager, blasted the website as “a fever dream of baseless rants, and not worthy of additional comment.”

“What voters care about is the direction of our state and country,” she said in an email.

Such undertakings tend to change few minds and can incite a backlash, especially in communities where negative campaigning is not the norm, said Bill Phillips of Sound Strategies, a Democratic consulting firm.

“It feels good for supporters. It feels like you’re making a difference. It feels like you’re getting your message out,” said Phillips, a former leader of the Snohomish County Democratic Party. “In the entire history of the internet, I have never met one Democrat who has said I was going to vote one way and then I saw this website.”

Family feud, take 1

Steve Gordon, a Pierce County Republican, shelled out a few hundred dollars to launch the ominous-looking bird-docs.com in April.

“Is Semi Bird the best choice for governor of Washington state? We won’t tell you how to vote. You be the judge” is a headline atop the site promising “facts” about the GOP gubernatorial candidate.

Scroll down and one finds links to videos and public records concerning Bird’s legal wranglings, military service and recall from the Richland School Board.

Gordon said he sought to get information to Republicans ahead of the state party convention in Spokane in April where Bird and Dave Reichert were to compete for the party’s endorsement.

The effort didn’t prevent Bird from securing the endorsement by an overwhelming margin. But he’s struggled since the convention to gain momentum.

At the convention, Bird acknowledged his past troubles. “If you want me to apologize for making mistakes, I will apologize. I will not live in shame for the rest of my life,” he said.

Since then he has assailed some fellow Republicans as “vile individuals” working to undercut his campaign.

Gordon also cut a $25,000 check to the political action committee funding the site targeting Ferguson. “I don’t know if people will cover some of Bob’s record as they should,” he said.

Fun on the water

Fuse Washington, the state’s largest progressive organization, got lighter and snarkier with SaveOurYachts.com. It is part of its opposition campaign to Initiative 2109, a measure on the November ballot to repeal the state’s capital gains tax.

It is one of three measures that qualified for the ballot through the efforts of Let’s Go Washington, a conservative political action committee largely funded by Heywood, a millionaire hedge fund manager.

It pokes fun at the extremely wealthy whose capital gains tax payments go to early learning and child care programs.

“We have a new hero in Brian Heywood,” begins one section. “He understands that many of us are upgrading our yachts for the summer, and now is NOT the time for us to keep paying taxes on our Wall Street profits.”

Aaron Ostrom, executive director of Fuse, said it is intended to motivate and engage their base. It had received 33,153 total visits as of June 25, which Ostrom said exceeded his expectations.

“It’s not like this is how we’re going to win the election,” he said. “We want to give our folks some laughs.”

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Office of the Secretary of State certifies candidates for August 6 Primary - with 28 candidates for Governor

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State certified candidates for Washington’s August 6, 2024 Primary election Tuesday in the Legislative Building. 

More than 1,000 people filed as candidates for federal, state, judicial, legislative, county, and other offices online, by mail, and in person. Candidates were certified for distribution to county elections offices by Assistant Secretary of State Kevin McMahan.

Individual offices which drew the most candidate filings include the Washington state governor, with 28, and Charter Review Commission — District No. 2 in Whatcom County, with 15. 

The Office of the Secretary of State has a complete list of candidates who filed. Candidates running for state office must prepare and submit information for the statewide Voters’ Pamphlet by 5pm on May 21. 

The top two finishers for partisan public offices on the Primary ballot will advance to the November 5 General Election.

“Filing for candidacy is a crucial step in our democratic process,” Assistant Secretary McMahan said. “Washington’s free and fair elections provide equitable opportunities to compete for the chance to support communities statewide.”

Ballots for the August 6 Primary will be mailed to eligible voters by July 19, when drop boxes and Accessible Voting Units at voting centers will open for voter use. 

Online and mail registrations must be received by July 29 to vote in the Primary. You can register to vote or update registration information in person any time before 8pm on Election Day, August 6.

Ballot positions for the Primary were assigned by random draw May 10, as required by RCW 29A.36.131.


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Statement from Secretary of State Steve Hobbs on 2024 candidate filings

Monday, May 13, 2024

OLYMPIA — Two of the three people who filed to run for governor under the name Bob Ferguson withdrew from the race before Monday’s deadline. (see previous article

Attorney General Bob Ferguson is now the
only one of that name on the ballot for Governor.
Bob Ferguson, who is currently serving as the state’s attorney general, will remain on the ballot in position 11 of a field of 28 candidates.

Under Washington’s top-two primary system, each voter will get to choose from among the complete field on the ballot. 

Irrespective of political party, the two candidates with the largest vote totals for each position will appear on the November 5 General Election ballot.

Complete lists of filed and withdrawn candidates can be found through the website of the Office of the Secretary of State. 

As required by RCW 29A.36.010, candidate lists will be provided to county elections offices Tuesday, May 14. 

Ballot positions were assigned by random draw May 10, as required by RCW 29A.36.131.

The potential presence of multiple candidates with the same name on the ballot had required the Office of Secretary of State to follow procedures authorized by Washington Administrative Code 434-215-060 to mitigate voter confusion.

“Instances of people filing for office with names similar to well-known officeholders go back nearly a century in Washington and other states,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “That is nothing new. We know how to address such issues as elections officials.”

RCW 29A.84.320 makes it a felony to declare as a candidate for public office under the name of a fictitious person, a false name, or in using the name of an incumbent or candidate who has already filed “with intent to confuse and mislead” the voting public.

“Voters deserve good-faith candidates who are running on the strength of their ideas to make Washington a better place to live and work, not people who pay a filing fee just to manipulate elections,” Hobbs said. 
“Washington’s long history of free and fair elections must be protected and preserved in every year and campaign cycle.”

Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees a number of areas within state government, including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. 

The office also manages the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, oversees the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees, and administers the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.


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