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

Congressional and Legislative District recounts certified

Friday, December 23, 2022

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs
OLYMPIA — Election recounts for the 3rd and 9th Congressional Districts and the 10th Legislative District have been completed, confirming the General Election outcomes certified by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs Dec. 7.

The amended results certified by the Office of the Secretary of State reflect the outcomes of the recount processes prescribed in state law.

The requested machine recount of the full 3rd Congressional District, certified today, resulted in a 14-vote change in the total. 

The addition of nine votes for Democratic candidate Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and five votes for Republican candidate Joe Kent adjusted the margin of victory from 2,629 votes to 2,633 votes. 

Seven counties took part in the recount, which amended the vote totals in Clark County by 10 votes, Cowlitz County by two votes, and Skamania and Thurston counties by one vote each.

A requested two-precinct hand recount in the 9th Congressional District did not change the vote totals for the race. A machine recount required by state law in the 10th Legislative District added five votes to the total, all for Democratic candidate Clyde Shavers. 

The recount adjusted the margin of victory from 211 votes to 216 votes. All five votes were from Island County.

Election certification documents can be found at the Office of the Secretary of State’s 2022 General Election data web page.



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The ballot counting process in King county

Tuesday, November 15, 2022


This election, King County Elections staff will open around 800,000 ballots. There are 20 steps to opening each ballot.

Once all ballots in a batch have been opened, unfolded, and inspected, they go into a box labeled with their batch number, and are ready to be scanned and tabulated.


Every step of the process is observed by trained partisan and nonpartisan observers. In this photo, the observer in the orange lanyard is watching a member of our opening team do their work.



You've returned your ballot. Your signature has been verified. Trained staff have opened your ballot and it's ready for tabulation. What IS tabulation?

Tabulation is the process of tallying the votes. Under Washington law, ballots may be prepared for tabulation upon receipt, but tabulation may not begin until after 8pm on Election Day.

Tabulation scanners take images of the front and back of each ballot. None of the scanners is connected to the internet and none are capable of being connected to the internet. Each is tested multiple times before every election.

Scanned images are stored on an air-gapped server accessible by a strictly limited number of staff - not even our Elections Director has access! The tabulation server room is accessed with a badge + fingerprint, is under video surveillance, and has windows for observation.

We post tabulated results after 8pm on Election Night, and then every weekday (and some weekend days) until all ballots have been tabulated.

--Story and photos from King county elections



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King Conservation District seeks candidates for 2023 Board election

Monday, November 14, 2022

King Conservation District (KCD) is holding its annual Board Supervisor election January 24 - February 14, 2023. The candidate filing window for this election is December 5 – 9, 2022.

For the fourth year, the King Conservation District election will primarily rely on electronic ballot access. 

Ballots will be available to eligible voters online from January 24, 2023, at 8am through February 14, 2023, at 8pm. 

Voters may return ballots electronically through the online ballot access system or reach out to KCD for assistance. Democracy Live operates the online ballot access portal and King County Elections will tabulate all ballots and report all results.

To increase awareness of the election, for the third year, KCD will be mailing roughly 800,000 postcards to registered voter households in the district with information on how to vote in the board election. These postcards will arrive in mailboxes at the beginning of the voting period. 

The League of Women Voters is also planning to host a candidate forum January 24, 2023 to launch the voting period.

KCD is a special purpose district committed to helping people engage in stewardship and conservation of natural resources, serving over two million people in 34 cities and unincorporated King County. 

KCD assists private residents with forestry management, streamside and shoreline enhancement, farm conservation planning, and other environmental efforts. It works with cities and community organizations to support community gardens, urban forest canopy, and local food systems. KCD is funded primarily by a per-parcel assessment fee paid by residents of the district.

An all-volunteer, five-member Board of Supervisors is responsible for overseeing KCD operations, budget, and setting policy. Voters elect three supervisors, and the Washington State Conservation Commission appoints two supervisors. Supervisors serve three-year terms.

For more information about the election and candidate filing, please visit kingcd.org/elections.



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King county council chair applauds voter support of even-year elections charter amendment

Thursday, November 10, 2022

On Tuesday, King County voters sent a clear message that they want to expand democracy by approving King County Charter Amendment 1 and move elections for county executive, assessor, director of elections, and councilmembers to even-numbered years.

“King County voters want to strengthen our democracy by making it easier for more people to vote to elect their County-level representatives,” said King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci, who introduced the even-year election proposal. 
"Already, King County’s elections are one of the most transparent, secure and inviting in the nation, and now with this one simple, commonsense change to King County’s charter, we can make our elections even better.”

The logic behind the proposal is simple: even-year elections regularly see higher voter turnout than odd-years. Since 2010, King County’s average voter turnout rate is 77% in even-numbered years and 47% in odd-numbered years. In 2021, countywide ballot measures and offices had 40 to 41% turnout, while countywide ballot measures and offices in 2020 saw voter turnout between 78% and 80%.

Voter turnout in even-year elections is also more reflective of the electorate. Areas with more renters see a higher odd-year drop than areas with more homeowners, and voters of color have a bigger dip in turnout in odd-years than white voters.

As of Wednesday night, November 9, 2022, Charter Amendment 1 was passing with 69% of ballots in favor to 31% opposed. With this change, people elected to office starting in 2023 or 2025 will serve a three-year term (2023-2026 or 2025-2028) in order to move to an even-numbered year schedule. Subsequent terms, starting in 2026 and 2028, would again be four-year terms.



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Election results - incumbents win

By Diane Hettrick

I'm really quite patient with political ads. I remind myself of all the money they are bringing into the local economy.

But they were relentless at the end and I'm not sorry to see them gone.

In spite of predictions and polls (some of which may have been deliberate misinformation), Sen. Patty Murray is winning a sixth term with 57% of the vote. 

Murray lived in Shoreline for decades and got her political start here. Her children graduated from Shorewood. She is acknowledged to be one of the most powerful senators in congress. 

Rep. Pramilia Jayapal, representing Congressional District 7, which covers Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, and most of Seattle, is easily winning re-election. She is the leader of the Progressive Caucus in the House and also wields a great deal of power.

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is an appointee and is just a few points ahead of Julie Anderson. Both of them were long-time employees of the state elections department. This race is not over yet but Hobbs has been consistently ahead of Anderson, who does not identify with a political party.

State legislative incumbents will all be returning to Olympia.

Legislative District 1 - which includes Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, NE Seattle
  • Rep. Davina Duerr
  • Rep. Shelley Kloba
Legislative District 32 - which includes Shoreline, Woodway, NW Seattle, and a lot of territory in Snohomish county
  • Sen. Jesse Salomon
  • Rep. Cindy Ryu
  • Rep. Lauren Davis
In Legislative District 46, which included Lake Forest Park for a decade, both Javier Valdez, and Gerry Pollet were reelected.



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Shoreline Prop 1 election night results

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Election night results

Shoreline's Prop 1 YES votes are far ahead in ballots counted on Election Day, November 8, 2022. King county has 152,000 ballots left to be counted, out of 440,472 returned. In a medium sized city like Shoreline, the early trends usually hold.

The levy validation is a Simple Majority, which is 50% + 1 vote.

We will continue to update the results as counts are released.

The "Maintenance and Operations Levy for Public Safety and Community Services" raises the property tax rate to $1.39/$1,000 for collection in 2023. 

--Diane Hettrick



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The Office of the Secretary of State encourages patience while counties tally election results

Ballot processing in King county
The Office of the Secretary of State encourages voters, the media, and the general public to wait patiently while counties tally election results.

“We understand that voters and the media are eager to learn the results right away,” said Director of Elections Stuart Holmes. 
“However, voting systems are on an air-gapped network and are not connected to the internet. Processes are in place for election administrators to safely and securely publish results, and those processes take time. This is a normal and expected process during any election.”

Counties do not begin tabulating ballots until after the voting period closes at 8pm on Election Day. Following the initial results release on election night, further results will be reported Wednesday, Nov. 9. Washington’s largest counties will post updated results daily. Counties with a population of less than 75,000 are required to report at least every three days.

Results will be regularly updated throughout the 21-day certification window. Each county will post its next tabulation date and time along with how many estimated ballots it has left on hand each time the county updates its results. Results are not final until counties certify them Nov. 29. The Office of the Secretary of State has until Dec. 8 to certify the 2022 General Election returns.

For more information about the election or voting in Washington state, visit the Secretary of State’s website at sos.wa.gov/elections or contact a county elections office.



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You have until 7:59pm to get your ballot into a drop box

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Kenmore Vote Center 18120 68th Ave NE, Kenmore, WA 98028

This is your last day to get your ballot into a drop box. Get there by 7:59pm - earlier if possible.

You can even register to vote and vote on this day, Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

  • The Kenmore City Hall Vote Center will be open Saturday, November 5, Monday, November 7, and Tuesday, Election Day, November 8. Voters can register for the first time, update their registration, get a replacement ballot, or use an accessible voting device.
There is a drop box at Kenmore City Hall.



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Turn back - Turn in: Clocks go back, ballots go in

Sunday, November 6, 2022

Turn back - Turn in
Melting clocks on Etsy; ballot photo by Alan Charnley

Now that you have reset your clocks from the power outage, turn them back an hour.

Unless you have a tree down over the road, you should be able to get out Sunday to turn in your ballot to a drop box or post office box.

Right now we have more drop boxes than post office boxes, but take your pick.

That may be an exaggeration. Let's see.

Blue boxes: 
  • Post office in Gateway Plaza on N 185th. 
  • By Subway Sandwiches in Ballinger Terrace. 
  • Town Center LFP?
  • Bitter Lake post office - drive up
Drop boxes:
  • Town Center LFP by City Hall
  • Shoreline Library NE 175th and 5th NE
  • Aurora Park n Ride N 192nd and Aurora
--Diane Hettrick



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Tuesday, November 8, is Election Day

Saturday, November 5, 2022


Tuesday, Nov. 8, is Election Day in Washington state.
 
Mailed ballots must be postmarked by November 8 or prior, and ballots may be deposited into official drop boxes until 8:00pm on Election Day (but not one minute later).

Every Washingtonian registered to vote by October 31 should have received a mailed ballot. Voters may visit VoteWA.gov to review a personalized voter’s guide, request a replacement ballot, locate official drop boxes, and check their ballot status.



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Friends of the Shoreline Library: get your library needs met before or after election day to avoid traffic jams

Thursday, November 3, 2022

Photo courtesy Friends of Shoreline Library

Our library is centrally located in Shoreline so that means this ballot drop box is too. Tip: try to get your library needs met before or after Election Day to avoid traffic jams in the parking lot!

The library is located at 345 NE 175th St, Shoreline WA 98155 

Enter the parking lot from eastbound 175th or take 5th NE to enter from the back on NE 174th.

Or just turn your ballot in now and avoid Tuesday's rush as everyone tries to deposit their ballot before 8pm on November 8, 2020.




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Ballot drop boxes in their usual places - time to turn in your ballot

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

 
Aurora Transit Center drop box. It's now across Aurora from a construction site.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

By Diane Hettrick

Ok, we made it through Halloween. Not quite down from the sugar high but we can maintain it at Dia de Muertos Tuesday night.

Daylight Saving Time goes away on Sunday (set your clocks Saturday night) Spring ahead - Fall back.

The drop box is in the parking lot of the Shoreline Library.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Between the sugar high and the time change disorientation, fill out your ballot and get it in the drop box. You can mail it - the envelopes are postage paid.

2021 special election

It's always a little disheartening that the percentage of voters is so low. Lake Forest Park always has more people voting than Shoreline but both usually end up in the mid -70% range. Let's hope this election is different.

Lake Forest Park has an easily accessible drop box right next to city hall. Shoreline has one at the library. The Aurora Park n Ride at 192nd has one.

Elections told me that every election there are people who show up after the deadline - 8pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Your ballot will not be counted, even if you leave it on top of the drop box. Get there before the deadline.

Go vote! and if you have already turned in your ballot, good for you.



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Op-Ed: NUHSA strongly encourages a YES vote on Shoreline's Prop 1

Monday, October 31, 2022

OP-ED
From Heidi Shepherd, Board President NUHSA

Ballots have been mailed, and Shoreline voters now must vote on Prop. 1, the maintenance and operations levy for public safety and community services. The North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) strongly encourages a YES vote!

The pandemic has had severe consequences for many in our community, and families are still struggling. From mental and physical health challenges to food scarcity and a lack of stable housing, residents have relied on the critical support Shoreline has provided during the pandemic and the infrastructure that the City has carefully built in partnership with area providers and agencies.

State law limits an increase in tax revenue unless authorized by a vote of the people, and because funding for basic City services (including that of human services) has not kept pace with rising costs, approval of Prop. 1 is essential to simply maintain current services. 

This includes critical community services funding for seniors, youth, and families in need, along with homelessness response services and staffing for the successful RADAR program that provides mental health professionals with police to assist community members in behavioral health crises.

If the proposed levy replacement does not pass, the City will be forced to reduce or eliminate services to balance the City’s budget, as required by law - and first on the chopping block will be those programs the City is not legally required to provide. 

At risk is support for human services, such as the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center, the Teen Center and programs for children and young families, in addition to neighborhood services, community events, homelessness outreach, communications, parks maintenance, recreation programs, and cultural programming.

Renewing the levy is absolutely critical for maintaining the health and human services residents expect and ensuring a strong and vibrant community for everyone. Vote YES on Prop. 1!



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U.S. Attorney Nick Brown appoints Election Officer for Western District of Washington

Sunday, October 30, 2022

Assistant U.S. Attorney, FBI, standing by to respond to complaints about voter intimidation or fraud

Seattle – United States Attorney Nick Brown announced that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Seth Wilkinson will lead the efforts for the Western District of Washington in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election. 

AUSA Wilkinson has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. 
“Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation, threats of violence directed at election officials and workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. 

The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. 

It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. 

The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).

United States Attorney Brown stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. 
"In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Wilkinson will be on duty in this District throughout the voting period. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 206-553-7970.”

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 206-622-0460.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ 

United States Attorney Brown said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over ballot drop boxes, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.



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Judges on the ballot

Friday, October 14, 2022

By Diane Hettrick

First of all, all the judicial races we vote on this year have unopposed candidates.

Second - put this website in your bookmarks for future elections: VotingForJudges.com

The site was created to provide voters with information about people running for judicial positions. It provides information from newspaper editorial boards and includes rating from every group that rates candidates.

Our local Shoreline District Court at the Robert A. Wacker courthouse on Meridian will be getting two new justices.

Judge Marcine Anderson is retiring after this year. Karama Hawkins is taking her place and is on our ballot.

Joe Campagna has been named by Gov. Inslee to Superior Court. (See article) The appointment took place after the filing deadline, so he is on our ballot for Shoreline District court. After the election he will resign and an interim will be appointed. 



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What's on your Ballot and where you can vote in person

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

By Diane Hettrick

I have VoteWA.gov engraved on my brain, so I always forget that after you log in, if you want to see your voter's guide, it will send you to a different location where you have to log in again.

It's still a very useful site.

Monday the Voters' Pamphlet came out. It includes races from districts where you do not live.

If all you want to know is what you personally will be voting on, here's where you can see your voters' guide www.kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/my-voter-information.aspx

You can update your personal information online until October 31 for the November 8, 2022 General and Special Election. After October 31, you can update your information in person at the elections office in Renton or at a vote center location through Election Day, November 8.

Make sure they have a valid phone number on file for you so you will get the message if they have a question about your ballot - like your signature not matching what is on file for you.

People who need or prefer to vote in person, usually because of physical difficulties, can go to a vote center.

Kenmore City Hall is a vote center location and it's very easy to get to. Take NE 145th St or Ballinger Way to Bothell Way. Turn left and go to 68th NE in Kenmore. Turn left - city hall is three blocks from Bothell Way.

Kenmore City Hall Vote Center - Vote Center
  • Saturday, November 5, 10:00am – 4:00pm 
  • Monday, November 7, 8:30am – 6:00pm 
  • Election Day, November 8, 8:30am – 8:00pm


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The 2022 Student Mock Election is now open for all Washington K-12 students

Monday, October 10, 2022

Middle school students who participated in a mock election
OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State is calling on students and teachers across Washington to participate in the 2022 Student Mock Election.

From now until the November 8, 2022 General Election, the Student Mock Election is a nonpartisan educational initiative that teaches K-12 students how elections work and how to become informed voters. 

Students have the opportunity to vote on actual races and measures pertinent to their daily lives, or an alternate version with fictional issues.

Ballots, vote tabulation sheets, and Voters’ Pamphlets are available for download and printing. Other free resources include “I Voted” stickers (which must be ordered by Nov. 8) and the curriculum book Teaching Elections in Washington State

The lessons meet state and Common Core standards, and satisfy the civics coursework required for graduation. Classroom-based assessments are included with each lesson.

“The Student Mock Election is an interactive, educational program that helps students learn more about our elections and enables them to become more informed and involved citizens,” said Assistant Secretary of State Trova O’Heffernan. 
“Teachers have access to several unique resources and tools to help teach young people how to make civic engagement a lifelong habit.”

In Washington state, 16- and 17-year-olds can sign up as Future Voters and be automatically registered to vote when they become eligible. More information about the Future Voter program, including qualifications and how to register, is available here.

National Voter Education Week (NVEW) is a nonpartisan voter education campaign held the first week of October that equips voters with the tools, information, and confidence they need to cast their ballots. 

More information is available at votereducationweek.org



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Online Voters' Guide

Sunday, September 25, 2022

Want to get a head start researching ballot items for the November 8, 2022 General Election? 

View the Online Voters' Guide at https://bit.ly/3UiaZ8w




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Today is National Voter Registration Day - check your registration at VoteWA.gov

Tuesday, September 20, 2022


Even if you have not moved, your voting district may have - particularly if you live in Lake Forest Park.

Check your registration at VoteWA.gov to make sure your address is correct, find out what districts you are in and see who is on the ballot for November.



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AG Ferguson: Judge rules Facebook parent Meta intentionally violated campaign finance laws

Monday, September 5, 2022

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson recently announced that a King County Superior Court judge ruled that Facebook parent company Meta repeatedly violated Washington’s campaign finance transparency law. The judge also denied Meta’s attempt to gut Washington’s campaign transparency law.

In July, Ferguson filed a summary judgment motion against Meta arguing that the tech giant committed hundreds of intentional violations of Washington state’s campaign finance transparency law. At a hearing today, the judge granted the state’s motion for summary judgment against the company.

This law requires campaign advertisers, including entities such as Meta that host political ads, to make information about Washington political ads that run on their platforms available for public inspection in a timely manner. The state asserted that Meta violated the law repeatedly since December 2018 and committed hundreds of violations.

The judge concluded that Meta repeatedly and intentionally violated the law and must pay penalties. The exact amount of penalties will be determined at a later date. Under state law, the court can assess a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation. In addition, because Meta’s violations are found to have been intentional, the court may triple the amount of the judgment as punitive damages. By law, campaign finance penalties go to the State Public Disclosure Transparency Account.

The judge also denied Meta’s motion for summary judgment, which asked the court to strike down a key provision of Washington’s decades-old, best-in-the-nation law. Meta tried to strike down the law despite repeatedly stating publicly that it is committed to “providing transparency during elections.”

“We defeated Facebook’s cynical attempt to strike down our campaign finance transparency law,” Ferguson said. “On behalf of the people of Washington, I challenge Facebook to accept this decision and do something very simple – follow the law.”

More information here



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