by Phil Manzano
Today is the last chance to register and vote in the Aug. 6 primary election that will determine the final candidates for statewide offices ranging from Governor to Senator to Attorney General to Commissioner of Public Lands and even Insurance Commissioner. Whew! There's a lot there.
If you haven't voted, check out our primary guide if you want some help sorting out who's who in the ballot, including the Governor's race that has 30 people looking to run the state.
As King County Elections Director Julie Wise said in an Emerald interview, "Democracy is at its finest when all voices are heard. That's what it's supposed to be. My dream is 100% voter registration rate and 100% turnout."
This guide is part of an effort to get out the vote: It's part calendar, events and news bits, and Q&A about how, when, and where to vote. It will be updated with events and news as needed, so check back from time to time.
Aug. 6: Primary Election Day. Ballots must be postmarked by today or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m.
Aug. 6: Last day to register in person (by 8 p.m.) and vote in the primary election.
Aug. 6: Last day to file a resolution to place a measure on the ballot for the General Election.
Aug. 20 : Primary election results are certified.
Sept. 1: Labor Day holiday.
Sept. 20: Overseas, service and out-of-state ballots are sent for the November general election.
Oct. 14: Indigenous Peoples Day
Oct. 15: Local voters' pamphlets mailed
Oct. 16: Ballots mailed for General Election
Oct. 16: Vote center at King County Elections opens for general election
Oct. 17: Ballot drop boxes open
Oct. 21: Ballot return statistics available by 8 p.m.
Oct. 28: Deadline to register or update your registration online or by mail for the general election
Nov. 5: Election Day. Ballots must be postmarked by today or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. for the general election
Nov. 5: Last day to register in person and vote for the general election
Nov. 5: Election Day results posted by 8:15 p.m.
Nov. 26: General election results are certified.
The Wing Luke Museum's exhibit on voting, which is running through Jan. 20, 2025, entitled "We Can Be Heroes — Voting and Beyond" is designed to "demystify the political process…expand participation and empower people to address the needs of their communities."
According to the King County Elections website, almost any adult who is a:
A relatively new Washington State law restores voting rights for those who have served a prison sentence. Upon release from prison, voting rights are restored, but people must reregister to vote. For more detailed information for voters with a felony conviction or people without a residential address, check the King County Elections website.
Also newer voting rights for 16- and 17-year-olds are outlined in the Future Voter program. A 17-year-old who will turn 18 by the November general election can vote in the Aug. 6 primary. In Washington, 16- and 17-year-olds can sign up to be automatically registered to vote when they're eligible.
Registering to vote is easy. You can register to vote online or by mail up until 8 days before an election or in-person through election day. You'll need a Washington driver's license to register online but not for mail or in-person registration. See King County Elections' website for more information.
In King County vote by mail means in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
In addition, King County has 75 ballot dropbox location around the county, the newest at at Woodinville City Hall, the first dropbox in Woodinville city limits.
According to a press release, over 96% of registered voters live within a 3-mile radius of a drop box location. Typically, about half of voters return their ballots via drop box.
Drop boxes are open 24 hours a day and emptied at least once a day during an election.
"Drop boxes are key to accessible elections here in King County and Washington State," said King County Elections Director Julie Wise. "Constructed of half-inch thick steel, bolted directly into concrete, equipped with multiple locking mechanisms and with tamper evident seals, drop boxes are not only convenient, but also secure."
Find a list and interactive map of all the dropbox locations in King County on King County Elections' website.
This story was funded in part by a Voter Education Fund grant from King County Elections and the Seattle Foundation.
Phil Manzano is a South Seattle writer, editor with more than 30 years of experience in daily journalism, and is the interim news editor for the Emerald.
Featured Image: Emerald doggo Potato wants to know, have you voted? (Photo: Megan Christy)
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