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

Three Bob Fergusons now running for governor as race takes turn for the weird

Sunday, May 12, 2024

A Republican activist convinced two Democrats, both named Bob Ferguson, to join the contest. Backers of AG Bob Ferguson, the leading Democrat, are crying foul.


BY: JERRY CORNFIELD
Washington State Standard
Attorney General Bob Ferguson is running for Governor.
His name will appear 13th on the list of 30 candidates,
with two other Bob Fergusons listed second and third.

The number of Bob Fergusons running to be Washington’s next governor grew to three on Friday.

A conservative Republican activist threw a monkey wrench into the race by recruiting two last-minute Democratic candidates who share the same name as the party’s presumed front-runner.

The newcomers, one from Yakima and the other Graham, will now share the Aug. 6 primary ballot with Attorney General Bob Ferguson. 

In all, 30 candidates filed in the race.

Glen Morgan, a political conservative who has a knack for annoying elected Democrats and their progressive allies, cooked up the maneuver that immediately drew flack from the attorney general’s camp as an attempt to confuse voters.

Morgan said this had been in the works for a while as he contacted some of the 53 Washington residents named Bob Ferguson.

Deciding to file on their behalf “was pretty impulsive” and he said he had to scramble to raise money to cover the filing fee of $1,982.57 for each of the two Fergusons.

Bob Ferguson from Yakima is a retired state worker and the one from Graham is a military veteran, he said. Neither is politically experienced but both share a distaste for the state executive with the same name, Morgan said.

Ferguson, the attorney general, declined Friday to comment.

Former governor Christine Gregoire issued a statement on behalf of his campaign calling the last-minute filing a “highly deceiving and potentially illegal” effort to mislead voters.

“It’s nothing less than an attack on our democracy,” said Gregoire, a former attorney general who served as governor from 2005-2013.

Morgan countered that the only dishonesty is on the part of Ferguson for campaigning as one who will bolster public safety “when everything he’s done in office makes people less safe.”

The next important move is in the hands of Secretary of State Steve Hobbs.

Typically, in races for partisan offices, ballots contain only candidates’ names and their preferred party.

Under state law, if two or more candidates file for the same office with names similar enough to confuse voters, information can be added on the ballot to help differentiate them. Additional information will not be provided for any other candidate.

Hobbs must decide what extra wording to add. Occupation is one example he is considering. A decision is expected late Monday, after the deadline for candidates to withdraw.

Meanwhile, state election officials set the ballot order Friday through the random drawing of numbers. The late-arriving Bob Fergusons will be the second and third listed on the ballot. The attorney general landed 13th.


Read more...

Reminder: Friday is the last day to file as a PCO

Friday, May 10, 2024

The political parties offer training to their PCOs

Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) are volunteers elected by their neighbors to represent their precincts in their political party.

They inform their neighbors about candidates and upcoming ballot measures and they vote to elect party leadership and vote to fill vacancies in elected office.

Online PCO filing is available 24 hours a day:
Filing closes Friday, May 10, 2024 at 5:00pm.

PCOs serve 2-year terms and are elected on even-numbered years.

PCO candidates must be registered voters in the precinct, be at least eighteen years old and declare they are a member of either the Republican or Democrat party.


Read more...

Precinct Committee Officer candidates can file online May 6 through 10

Sunday, May 5, 2024

A map from the King County website shows voting precincts in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park

By Oliver Moffat

Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) are volunteers elected by their neighbors to represent their precincts in their political party.

They inform their neighbors about candidates and upcoming ballot measures and they vote to elect party leadership and vote to fill vacancies in elected office.

To become a PCO, candidates file online with their respective county elections office: King County and Snohomish County.

The 2024 online filing period opens on Monday, May 6 at 8am and closes Friday, May 10, at 5:00pm.

In the event that more than one candidate runs for PCO in a precinct there will be an election in the August primary.

PCOs serve 2-year terms and are elected on even-numbered years.

To be a PCO, candidates must be registered voters in the precinct, be at least eighteen years old and declare they are a member of either the Republican or Democrat party.

Information on becoming a PCO is available on the Washington State Democrats website and the Washington State Republican Party website.

Candidates can find their precincts using maps on the King County website and the Snohomish County website.

For more information contact King County Elections or Snohomish County Elections.


Read more...

Washington laws aim to detect cyber attacks and protect election workers

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Ballots ready to be counted
Photo courtesy King County Elections
As the 2024 campaign season heats up, new laws are taking hold in Washington to protect election workers and boost security of ballot counting statewide.

One increases criminal penalties for harassment of election officials. 

Another requires counties to install certain security measures on election equipment and allows the Secretary of State to certify results in situations where counties don’t.

Combined with a third law to curb the number of rejected ballots, Washington lawmakers seek to bolster public confidence in the conduct of elections amid the continuing spread of misinformation and cyberthreats.

“(We) recognized the need to do all we can this cycle to protect the integrity of the entire system,” said Rep. Mari Leavitt, D-University Place.

Leavitt authored House Bill 1241 making it a class C felony for a person to threaten election officials with injury through words or conduct. Someone convicted under the law could face up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. Gov. Jay Inslee signed it March 26 and it took effect immediately. Previously such behavior carried a lesser penalty of a gross misdemeanor.

The new law also allows election officials and family members living with them to enroll in the state’s address confidentiality program, which allows a Washington resident to use a public mailing address different from where they reside, if they are a victim of domestic violence, trafficking or stalking.

Leavitt, who calls election workers “the heroes of democracy,” recounted how former state elections director Lori Augino received threats following the 2020 election.

And, last November, several counties were forced to halt ballot counting when envelopes containing an unknown white powder – later identified in two counties as fentanyl – arrived in their election offices.

The bill “sends a clear message that we value the commitment of election workers to conduct fair, nonpartisan elections and that any threats made to dissuade or endanger election workers in doing their job will be met with significant consequences,” said Snohomish County Auditor Garth Fell, who attended the bill signing last month. 

His office was named in a lawsuit that falsely claimed uncertified voting equipment was used to manipulate ballots in 2020.

Cybersecurity improvements

The other major election bill for the 2024 cycle comes in response to a handful of Washington counties opposing use of a cybersecurity device known as an Albert sensor that is designed to alert election officials to potential hacking attempts against their networks.

Under Senate Bill 5843, which takes effect in June, each of Washington’s 39 counties must install “an intrusion detection system that passively monitors its network for malicious traffic” around the clock.

“It is unfortunate that we can’t get all of our counties to voluntarily use this tool to protect our democracy,” Inslee said when he signed the bill March 13. “But this is a consequence of this age of conspiracy theories and disinformation about our elections.”

The law also says when a county canvassing board refuses to certify results of an election without cause, the Secretary of State “may examine the records, ballots, and results of the election and certify the results.”

Inslee said the language is a result of “ongoing, persistent and continuing disinformation” spread by former president Donald Trump and his followers “ever since he lost in 2020.”

Voter signature protections

The third law focuses on reducing the number of ballots rejected because the voter’s signature on the return envelope does not match the one on file for them.

Historically, most ballots are processed without incident. Even among ballots that are challenged for signature discrepancies, 60% are fixed and counted before the election is certified, research shows.

One recent study did find a disparity in rejection rates among counties. And another analysis found voters of color, particularly Hispanic and Asian voters, had their ballots rejected at a higher rate than white voters.

Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, sponsored Senate Bill 5890 to beef up education efforts for voters to understand how they can resolve issues with their ballot, such as a mismatched signature. It also requires letting voters know that their signature on the envelope will be compared with the one when they registered.

And it establishes a work group to come up with a uniform design for ballot return envelopes for counties to use in 2026.

Fell said matching the signature on the return ballot envelope with the one registration system is “an important safeguard of our vote-by-mail system.”

Valdez’s bill “ensures greater consistency among county signature review practices and more opportunity for voters to ensure their signature can be confirmed and their ballot counted,” Fell said.

--Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard


Read more...

Secretary Hobbs praises Legislature for passing elections security bills and reinforcing important public services

Thursday, March 14, 2024

King County election workers
Photo courtesy King County Elections

OLYMPIA—During the 2024 legislative session, the Legislature approved several bills and $33.3 million in funding requested by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs that will enhance the integrity of Washington elections and improve support for charities and libraries statewide.

“These bills and critical funding will go a long way toward reducing barriers to voter registration, enhancing election security, and supporting libraries and other key services,” Secretary Hobbs said. 
“I thank the Legislature for their strong support of these important efforts.”

Priority legislation includes:

House Bill 1241, sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt (D-University Place), makes harassing election workers a class C felony and allows harassed election officials to apply for the Address Confidentiality Program.

House Bill 1962, requested by Secretary Hobbs and sponsored by Rep. Sam Low (R-Lake Stevens), helps maintain accurate voter lists and streamlines registration updates for voters moving from one Washington county to another.

Senate Bill 5843, requested by Secretary Hobbs and sponsored by Sen. Joe Nguyen (D-White Center), requires counties to notify the Office of the Secretary of State if they experience malicious cyber activity and maintain intrusion detection systems to safeguard against election cyber threats, among other security improvements.

Senate Bill 5824, requested by Secretary Hobbs and sponsored by Sen. Sam Hunt (D-Olympia), protects library districts and expands voter eligibility to include all qualified district residents who can vote when a proposal for library dissolution appears on the ballot. It also increases the petitioning threshold from 10% of voters in unincorporated areas to 25% of qualified voters in the district.

These bills now await the governor’s signature.

Among the $33.3 million allocated in supplemental budgets for the Office of the Secretary of State, $23.75 million will support election cost reimbursements to Washington’s 39 counties for the 2024 elections. 

Another $3.9 million will stabilize operations of Washington State Library and Washington State Archives operating funds, which are experiencing shortfalls due to historically low transactions from document recording fees, as well as provide continued funding for the new Library and Archives building in Tumwater. 

In addition, $500,000 will expand voter education and outreach programs statewide, 

$587,000 will modernize the Combined Fund Drive donor management system, $72,000 will expand charities education outreach, and $52,000 will support Office of the Secretary of State international trade missions to expand workforce development opportunities stateside and abroad.

“Thank you to Senator June Robinson, Representative Timm Ormsby, and the budget committee members for your tireless work shaping this budget,” Secretary Hobbs said.



Read more...

Voting began Friday for Washington’s March 12 Presidential Primary

Sunday, February 25, 2024

OLYMPIA — Ballot boxes in all 39 counties opened Friday, February 23, 2024 for the March 12 Presidential Primary election. Vote-by-mail ballots have been sent to the state’s 4.8 million active voters, who may return their ballots to county drop boxes or by mail using the postage-paid envelopes included with each ballot.

“Every eligible voter in Washington can participate in this critical step toward picking the next president,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. 
“The choice we’ll make in November comes from the selections made in the primary process. I encourage voters statewide to consult the resources we provide and make informed decisions in all this year’s important elections, including the Presidential Primary.”

For the Presidential Primary only, state law and political party rules require voters to sign a party declaration on their ballot envelopes for their vote to count, and the voter must mark their ballot for one of that party’s candidates. Candidate names on the ballot were submitted by each political party to meet a Jan. 9 deadline specified in RCW 29A.56.031. Candidates who have ended their campaigns since that deadline remain on the ballot, under state law.

Party affiliation declarations provided in the Presidential Primary do not become part of a voter’s permanent registration, and the declaration does not affect how a voter may participate in future elections. Voters’ party declarations are removed from state records 60 days after certification of the Presidential Primary.

Ballots must be postmarked by March 12 or returned to a county drop box or voting center by 8pm on March 12. Voters can update their registration or address online or by mail by March 4 to vote in the Presidential Primary. After March 4, voters can visit a county elections office or voting center until 8pm Election Day to register or update their registration.

Results of Washington’s Presidential Primary will be used to help political parties choose their nominees for President at national conventions later this year. Each party’s nominees for President and Vice President will appear on the Nov. 7 General Election ballot, along with state and local candidates selected in the state primary Aug. 6.

“The Presidential Primary is a unique election for Washington voters, with unique rules for participation,” Hobbs said. “My office and county elections leaders statewide are available to clear up any questions voters might have. We’re committed to providing trustworthy information to help people make their voices heard.”

Further information for Presidential Primary voters can be found on the Office of Secretary of State website at sos.wa.gov/elections, including detailed answers to frequently asked questions.

Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities.


Read more...

Video competition for Washington high school students

Stock photo
The League of Women Voters’ video creation contest is now open to all high school students in Washington. 

The competition theme is “Election Credibility” to promote awareness about the safety and security of voting in Washington state.

The submission deadline is May 1, 2024

Video length must be between 30 and 60 seconds and formatted for upload to social and broadcast media. Accepted videos will be uploaded to social media prior to the upcoming primary election on August 6, 2024.

Media students, or teams of students, can display their abilities with creative direction, videography, and content development with an opportunity to win money, build college application credentials, and garner recognition for their contributions to the democratic process.

Students are invited to email info@lwvsc.org with questions, or to request support during video development.

Complete competition details, and a look at last year’s winning entry, are available here.


Read more...

Washington's Presidential Primary

Friday, February 16, 2024

Voters' pamphlets for the Washington Presidential Primary are arriving in mailboxes around the state. 

Ballots will be mailed out by February 23, 2024 and should be delivered by February 26. The election deadline is March 12 - all ballots must be received by that date.

The purpose of the primary is for the two political parties - Republicans and Democrats - to pick their candidates. For that reason, voters must declare their party status in order to have their vote counted.

For this election only, you will need to check a political party declaration box and sign and date the declaration. Then your vote must be for a candidate in that party.

Because of the lead time needed to print and pamphlets and ballots, our information is already out of date.

On the Democrat side, Marianne Williamson dropped out at the beginning of February. A candidate named Dean Phillips is still in the race, along with President Biden.

On the Republican side, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, and Vivek Ramaswamy have dropped out, leaving Nikki Haley and Donald J. Trump.

The voters' pamphlet is online at the Secretary of State's website.

--Diane Hettrick


Read more...

King County Elections mails ballots for February 12 Special Election

Friday, January 26, 2024

On Wednesday, King County Elections (KCE) mailed ballots to just over 150,000 voters across five districts for the February 12, 2024 Special Election. King County Elections is projecting 32% turnout for this election.

Ballots should arrive to voters’ mailboxes by Monday, January 29. If a voter believes they should have received a ballot but did not, they should call King County Elections at 206-296-VOTE (8683).

Voters can also check our online ballot tracker and sign up for ballot alerts to get text or email notification of their ballot’s progress through the process, from mailed to counted. Voters who run into an issue with their signature will also receive an alert that additional action is needed for their vote to count.

The deadline to register to vote online or by mail for this election is Monday, February 5. Voters may register or update their registration in person until 8pm on Election Day. KCE will provide in person service, including providing replacement ballots and assistive voting devices for those with disabilities, at KCE Headquarters in Renton.

Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, February 12. Or voters may place them in a secure ballot drop box until 8pm sharp on Election Day. 18 ballot drop boxes are open for this election, including all within 3-miles of a participating jurisdiction.

Many voters in King County may also participate in the annual King Conservation District (KCD) Board of Supervisors election. 

Voting in the KCD election began on Tuesday, January 23, and will continue until Election Day, February 12. Voters must return separate ballots for each election. For more information about the KCD election, visit kingcd.org/vote.


Read more...

Presidential primary ballot printing to move ahead after court ruling

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

OLYMPIA — In accordance with the ruling by Thurston County Superior Court Judge Mary Sue Wilson, printing of ballots and voters’ pamphlets for the March 12 Presidential Primary will move forward with the candidate lists submitted by both political parties.

“An order directing the secretary of state to take different action, an order from this court, is simply not supported by the statutes and not supported by the affidavit of the electors,” Judge Wilson said in her ruling.

As directed by state law RCW 29A.56, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs provided the full candidate lists submitted by both political parties for the Presidential Primary to county auditors on Jan. 9. 

  • The Democratic Party had submitted three candidate names: Joseph R. Biden Jr., Dean Phillips, and Marianne Williamson. 
  • The Republican Party had submitted five candidate names for the Presidential Primary: Donald J. Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Chris Christie.
On Thursday, Judge Wilson dismissed a challenge to the ballot listing of former president Trump as a candidate, which followed a dismissal by a Kitsap County court Tuesday.

In the Thurston County case, Judge Wilson found that “the Secretary of State acted consistent with his duties” in proceeding with the candidate lists that parties submitted.

“I am grateful that Judge Wilson ruled in such a timely and well-considered fashion, and that she recognized that I and my staff have been working in full compliance with state law governing the Presidential Primary,” Secretary Hobbs said. 
“We will continue working with our partners in county elections offices to get all the necessary materials for this election to every Washington voter.”
Unlike in other Washington elections, state law requires Presidential Primary voters to sign a party declaration on their ballot envelopes to have their votes counted.


Read more...

Vote now in the King Conservation District (KCD) election


KCD is holding our annual board of supervisors election now through February 13, 2024. Eligible voters can access their ballots and election information at https://kingcd.org/election. King Conservation District includes all registered voters in King County (excluding the cities of Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific, and Skykomish which do not participate in the district).

Voting

Like the last four years, the King Conservation District election will primarily rely on electronic ballot access in partnership with Democracy Live with alternative options for requesting physical ballots. King County Elections will tabulate all ballots and report all results

Ballots will be available to eligible voters online from January 23, 2024, at 8:00am through February 13, 2024, at 8:00pm. 

Voters may return ballots electronically through the online ballot access system. The online ballot portal works with most smartphones and browsers. If you have issues, please try using a different phone or browser before contacting KCD.

Physical ballots must be postmarked by February 13, 2024, and received by February 22, 2024, to be counted. Physical ballots may also be dropped off at King County Elections at 919 SW Grady Way, Suite 200, Renton, WA 98057.

King Conservation District includes all registered voters in King County (excluding the cities of Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific, and Skykomish which do not participate in the District).

If you have questions or need assistance voting, please contact elections@kingcd.org or call 425-282-1900.

Once you voted you can track your ballot’s progress. Please allow for up to 3 business days after submission to process your ballot. If you have questions about whether your ballot has been received and processed, call King County Elections at 206-296-VOTE (8683).

King Conservation District Board of Supervisors

King Conservation District is a nonregulatory, special purpose district, funded by you, with a mission to promote the sustainable use of natural resources through voluntary stewardship in King County. We provide technical assistance to private residents in forest management, farm conservation planning, wildfire preparedness, and streamside and shoreline enhancement.

We also work with cities and other organizations to support community gardens, urban forest canopy, and local food systems. You don’t have to go it alone, your local conservation district can help.

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.

Please take a moment, review the candidates, and cast your vote.

Vote Now!




Read more...

Secretary Hobbs warns Washington voters to be alert for deepfakes

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs
OLYMPIA — After news reports that registered voters in New Hampshire have received fake phone calls simulating President Joe Biden speaking negatively about the Presidential Primary, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs warned Washington voters that deepfakes are an ongoing threat to elections and the voting public.

In a recording posted by NBC News, the faked Biden voice implores voters to “save your vote for the November election” rather than participating in Tuesday’s state Presidential Primary.

Washington state legislation requested and supported by Secretary Hobbs in 2023 prohibited deepfake advertising by political campaigns within Washington and empowered candidates targeted by faked statements to sue for damages.

“We have several high-interest elections this year, which creates a target-rich environment for these bad actors to subject voters to deepfakes and other misinformation,” Secretary Hobbs said. 
“I am grateful that the Legislature supported my bill to get ahead of this situation, and helped us enact a law that every state ought to emulate.

“The disturbing situation we’ve seen in New Hampshire’s campaign is just the tip of the iceberg for 2024,” Hobbs continued. 
“These false messages will get more polished and harder to tell from real ones. Voters must remain vigilant and skeptical, and turn to trusted information sources to verify things that just don’t seem right.” 

Washington’s Presidential Primary will be held March 12, 2024

Statewide offices will be on the ballot in the August 6 Primary, and decisions on the presidency and state offices will go before voters in the November 5 General Election ballot. 

Washington’s deepfakes law, found in RCW 42.62 and created by Secretary Hobbs’ requested Senate Bill 5152 in 2023, was one of America’s first restrictions on the use of synthetic media in political campaigning, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures

Under it, political campaigns must disclose when using falsely generated or manipulated video, images, or audio. A failure to disclose creates a potential civil liability.

“As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, we as state leaders have a responsibility to make sure our laws evolve as well to protect the public,” Secretary Hobbs said. 
“I will continue to work with the Legislature to keep Washington ahead of threats to the integrity of our elections.”


Read more...

King Conservation District (KCD) candidates announced for seat on 2024 Board of Supervisors

Friday, January 5, 2024

King Conservation District (KCD) is holding an election for Seat #1 on the Board of Supervisors. 

Voting begins January 23, 2024 and ends February 13, 2024.

King Conservation District includes all registered voters in King County (excluding the cities of Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific, and Skykomish that do not participate in the district).

KCD provides technical assistance to private residents in forest management, farm conservation planning, wildfire preparedness, and streamside and shoreline enhancement. They also work with cities and other organizations to support community gardens, urban forest canopy, and local food systems.

The following individuals are running for Position #1 (alphabetical by last name):

Visit King County Election Information Page to review candidates and learn more about the Board Supervisor Election.

You will be able to access your ballot through the online portal January 23, 2024 at 8:00am through February 13, 2024 at 8:00pm.

Two of KCD’s Board Seats are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. Seat #4 is up for appointment in 2024. The window for applications for the appointed seat is January 1, 2024 through March 31, 2024. 

If you are interested in applying for the appointed state position, visit www.scc.wa.gov/elections-and-appointments.


Read more...

Secretary of State certifies November Election

Thursday, December 7, 2023

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs certified results from Washington’s Nov. 7 General Election Wednesday afternoon.

More than 1.725 million Washingtonians participated in the General Election, a 36.4% turnout of the state’s 4.829 million registered voters. 

Issues on voters’ ballots included local ballot propositions, city and county elected officials, and school and fire district positions.

This was the first General Election in more than 50 years without a statewide issue or race to be decided by all of Washington’s voters.

"It’s important that voters participate in these odd-year elections that give us the opportunity to focus on important local races and ballot proposals,” Secretary Hobbs explained. 
“While it can be a challenge to get voters’ attention for these local races, who you elect to lead your community affects your day-to-day life, and the ballot proposals on odd-year ballots decide important questions about funding and governance in communities across Washington.”

Washington’s next scheduled elections come early in the new year. Some jurisdictions will hold a special election Feb. 13, 2024, and the state’s Presidential Primary will take place March 12.

“I look forward to the opportunity to get more eligible voters registered and participating during the upcoming year,” Secretary Hobbs said. “Each year’s elections are important, and I hope that the attention on state and national offices in the 2024 election cycle leads to sustained civic involvement for many years to come.”

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.


Read more...

Filing open for King Conservation District (KCD) Board

Monday, December 4, 2023

Are you interested in becoming a KCD Board Supervisor

KCD Board Supervisors help steer KCD and the important conservation work we do. 

It is important to us that our board reflects the diversity of King County and its conservation needs.

If you think that your voice can help KCD build clean water, healthy forests, and strong local food systems, consider applying to run in the 2024 Board Election.

The candidate filing period for the Position #1 election for the King Conservation District Board of Supervisors is December 4, 2023, at 8:00am through December 8, 2023 at 5:00pm.

KCD will hold a Board of Supervisors Election in early 2024 for Position #1. Voting begins January 23, 2024 and ends February 13, 2024.

Two of KCD’s Board Seats are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. Seat #4 is up for appointment in 2024. The window for applications for the appointed seat is January 1, 2024 through March 31, 2024.


Read more...

Elections certified: Major turnovers in local races

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

l-r Tom French, next Mayor of Lake Forest Park; Annette Ademasu, newest member of Shoreline City Council; Jon Culver elected to Kenmore City Council

King county has certified the results of the November 2023 general election, as has Snohomish county.

Locally, our elections were remarkable for the long-term, well-known incumbents who were defeated by challengers.
  • LFP Mayor Jeff Johnson defeated by Tom French
  • Shoreline Councilmember Doris McConnell defeated by Annette Ademasu
  • Kenmore Councilmember David Baker defeated by Jon Culver
Mike Rosen, next Mayor of Edmonds
Susanna Johnson, Snohomish County Sheriff
Snohomish County incumbents had not been in office as long, perhaps 3-4 years.
  • Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson defeated by Mike Rosen
  • Snohomish county sheriff Adam Fortney defeated by Susanna Johnson
Local races were notable for the number of incumbents who had no challengers. Effectively, they were reelected the moment that candidate filing closed.

As always, local races were also notable for the number of people who did not vote, i.e. "undervotes."

King County ballot returns
There are some good reasons for people who are registered but do not vote. People move out of the state and don't think to notify elections. People who are infirm, or ill. People who don't think they know enough about issues or candidates to make a choice.

People who figure the incumbent will win and doesn't need their vote. 

People who are so stressed and busy that the whole thing just got away from them. People who fill out their ballots early, put them on the desk and bury them in a stack of paper (you know who you are).

That leaves a lot of people that I have no excuses for.

Having said that, the turnout was better this year in some areas. The City of Kenmore had 40% turnout, which isn't bad compared to Shoreline's 34% - but Kenmore still had a council race that was decided by 70 votes.

Lake Forest Park has bragging rights with a 48% ballot return.

City of Kenmore - 15,656 registered -  6,289 ballots  40.17%
City of Lake Forest Park -  10,352 registered - 4,954 ballots  48.26%
City of Seattle -  480,980 registered - 220,938 ballots  45.93% (numbers from Prop 1)
City of Shoreline - 39,313 registered  - 13,326 ballots 33.90%

In Snohomish County, 
  • Total Ballots Cast: 185,738 
  • Registered Voters: 512,546
  • Overall Turnout: 36.24%
Town of Woodway - 1045 registered voters - 499 ballots  47.75%

--Diane Hettrick


Read more...

Election results to date: November 21, 2023 - Kenmore council candidates are 70 votes apart

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

By Diane Hettrick

A reminder that you can register with King County Elections for notifications that your ballot was received, and was counted. At the same time, you can sign up for alerts and reminders.

Here is the sign in page to get started: Fill in 3 of the 4 fields on this form and Submit.

Latest results as of November 21. Only one race, Kenmore council Pos #5, is possibly in play.

Kenmore city council - Challenger Jon Culver is now 70 votes ahead of incumbent David Baker.

Pos 5:
  • Jon Culver        3,088
  • David Baker     3,018
I have seen close races but not since paper ballots has one been this close.

I checked in with King County Elections a couple of days ago to see how close a race has to be to trigger an automatic recount and referenced the Kenmore council race.

According to Communications Officer Halei Watkins "Mandatory recounts are triggered at certification - November 28 for this election. The thresholds vary a bit between statewide contests and all other contests. 

"Here’s what they are for local candidates:
  • For all candidate races and statewide ballot measures:  Mandatory machine recount must be less than 2,000 votes AND also less than 1/2 of 1% of the total number of votes cast for both candidates
  • For all other candidate races:  Mandatory hand recount must be less than 150 votes AND also less than 1/4 of 1% of the total number of votes cast for both candidates
"There are no mandatory recounts for local ballot measures.
 
"It’s important to note the ‘AND’ in the threshold as it’s typically the percentage portion that knocks contests out of mandatory recount range. 
  • Looking at the Kenmore City Council Pos. 5 race, there are 6,094 votes cast for both candidates. The difference of 72 votes puts it a little over 1% of the total votes cast for both candidates, meaning it would not require a mandatory recount if we certified today."

Read more...

Election results Day 6 Tuesday - time to verify that your ballot was counted

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

By Diane Hettrick

King county elections released the sixth day of results at 3:46pm on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

Just a handful of new results were posted, which means that Elections has processed the ballots from the drop boxes and is now reporting ballots that straggle in through the mail and the ballots that need verification as they are "cured".

This would be a very good time to verify that your ballot was processed. The most typical delay comes from how your signature compares to what they have on file.

They will try to reach you but it's best to be proactive.

It is a simple process. Fill in 3 of the 4 fields on this form and Submit.

Latest results. Only one race, Kenmore council Pos #5, appears to be in play.

Shoreline Council Pos 4:
  • Doris McConnell, incumbent 5,646 votes
  • √ Annette Ademasu, challenger 7,000 votes

Lake Forest Park

Mayor:
  • √ Tom French, former Deputy Mayor 3,147
  • Jeff Johnson, current Mayor 1,687

Council Pos 6:
  • √ Paula Goode 2,515
  • Stephanie Angelis 2,251

Kenmore city council

Pos 5:
  • Jon Culver 3,075
  • incumbent David Baker 3,006
Pos 7:
  • √ Challenger Nathan Loutsis 3,148
  • incumbent Corina Phfeil 2,904

Read more...

Election results Day 5 update 11-13-2023

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

By Diane Hettrick

King county elections released the fifth day of results at 3:30pm on Monday, November 13, 2023. Results will be released every weekday until November 28.

Shoreline has 39,313 Registered Voters. 13,217 ballots have been counted to date which is 34%

Shoreline Council Pos 4:
  • Doris McConnell, incumbent 5,638 votes
  • Annette Ademasu, challenger 6,967 votes

Lake Forest Park has 10,352 registered voters. 4909 ballots have been counted so far, which is 47%.

Mayor:
  • Tom French, former Deputy Mayor 3,132
  • Jeff Johnson, current Mayor 1,673 
Council Pos 6:

For this open seat, Goode has been ahead from the beginning
  • Paula Goode 2,507
  • Stephanie Angelis 2,228

Kenmore city council - 15,656 registered voters. 6,241 ballots have been counted - 40%

Pos 1: 
  • √  Incumbent Melanie O'Cain 3,616 
  • challenger Kara Macias 2,469
Pos 3: In the only open seat
  • √  Valerie Sasson 3,370  
  • Josh Kurchinka 2,675
Pos 5: A 60 vote lead for the challenger
  • challenger Jon Culver 3,062 
  • long-time incumbent and former mayor David Baker 3,002
Pos 7: The challenger still leads
  • Challenger Nathan Loutsis 3,142 
  • incumbent Corina Phfeil 2,892

Read more...

Election results 4th day Friday November 10, 2023

Saturday, November 11, 2023

By Diane Hettrick

King county elections released the fourth day of results at 4:30pm on Friday, November 10, 2023. The next set of results will be released on Monday.

The farther we get into the vote counting, the less chance there is for dramatic changes. This election looks like it's following the pattern of low voter turnout in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park. Kenmore, on the other hand, is currently running an eye-popping return rate of 40%.

Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, and Kenmore all have upset elections, turning out a long-term Shoreline councilmember and the Lake Forest Park mayor, while Kenmore looks to oust two incumbent councilmembers. 

A reminder that Lake Forest Park is the only city that directly elects its mayor. In Shoreline and LFP, the new council elects a mayor.

Shoreline Council Pos 4:
  • Doris McConnell, incumbent 5,576 votes
  • Annette Ademasu, challenger 6,899 votes

Lake Forest Park

Mayor:
  • Tom French, former Deputy Mayor 3,109
  • Jeff Johnson, current Mayor 1,658
Council Pos 6:

For this open seat, Goode has been ahead the entire week but it's still too close to call.
  • Paula Goode 2,493
  • Stephanie Angelis 2,207

Kenmore city council

Pos 1: 
  • Incumbent Melanie O'Cain 3562 
  • challenger Kara Macias 2426
Pos 3: In the only open seat
  • Valerie Sasson 3319  
  • Josh Kurchinka 2631
Pos 5: Still a nail-biter, 
  • challenger Jon Culver 3012 
  • long-time incumbent and former mayor David Baker 2957
Pos 7: 
  • Challenger Nathan Loutsis 3087 
  • incumbent Corina Phfeil 2845


Read more...
ShorelineAreaNews.com
Facebook: Shoreline Area News
Twitter: @ShorelineArea
Daily Email edition (don't forget to respond to the Follow.it email)

  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP