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Tag: state Elections Director Lori Augino

WA 2016 Election: The count goes on

WA 2016 Election: The count goes on

As Washington’s vote tally continues through the week, voters were re-electing most incumbents and siding with Hillary Clinton in her losing White House bid. Before Wednesday’s updates, more than 2 million votes had been counted, better than 48 percent of the record 4.24 million ballots that were sent out last month.  Counties reported receiving 2.7 million ballots by mail or drop box, a 63 percent return rate, as of Election Day, not counting evening drop box pickups. Heavy mail volumes…

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Washington celebrating Get out the Disability Vote Week

Washington celebrating Get out the Disability Vote Week

Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman on Monday launched the state’s first Get out the Disability Vote Week to bring attention to accessible voting information and ballots to the disability community and encourage them to participate in the upcoming General Election and learn how a ballot is counted. The state also took note of National Disability Voter Registration Week July 11-15. Twelve county election departments are also participating in the event (Cowlitz, Island, Chelan, Jefferson, Kittitas, Thurston, Pierce, Franklin, Clark,…

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Reminder: Oct. 10 is WA voter-reg deadline

Reminder: Oct. 10 is WA voter-reg deadline

A reminder that Monday, Oct. 10, is the deadline for online and mail-in voter registration ahead of the General Election. Secretary Wyman and the state Elections Director Lori Augino said Tuesday that county election departments will also honor mail-in applications with an Oct. 11 postmark. The Oct. 10 deadline could have been a problem for some who are registering by mail, since that is a federal holiday and the post office will not process or postmark on that day or…

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WA Elections Division reaching out to 140k potential voters

WA Elections Division reaching out to 140k potential voters

Washington’s state Elections Division is sending out postcards to 140,000 state residents who appear eligible to vote, but haven’t yet registered. Many of the cards will go to new 18 year olds and to millennials between 19 and 35. The mailings will have a catchy, humorous graphic and information on how to quickly register online by Oct. 10. About 21,000 will go to 18 year olds and 72,000 to those 19-35. Eligible but unregistered 18 year olds will receive this…

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WA General Election voting kicks off this week

WA General Election voting kicks off this week

Washington’s General Election voting season gets under way in just a few days, with counties sending ballots to over 72,000 military and overseas voters around the globe. Federal law provides extra transit time for military and overseas voters, with counties required to send out ballots 45 days before Election Day. This year, that’s Saturday, Sept. 24. A number of soldiers and others have also requested electronic versions. Still others use federal write-in ballots via the Federal Voting Assistance Program at…

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WA partners with federal military voting experts

WA partners with federal military voting experts

State Elections Director Lori Augino, Secretary of State Wyman, Col. Will Phillips and FVAP Director Matt Boehmer. (Photo courtesy of Lori Augino) Secretary of State Kim Wyman shared a personal story to explain why she is so enthused about the  Federal Voting Assistance Program and voting assistance officers who help Washington service members and their families register to vote and cast their ballots, sometimes from remote locations.

State Elections Division launches MyVote upgrade

State Elections Division launches MyVote upgrade

Secretary of State Kim Wyman announces launch of a major upgrade to the state Elections Division’s popular MyVote online service, with an emphasis on accessibility. The new version of MyVote was developed in collaboration with the Statewide Disability Advisory Committee, which includes voters who are blind or have sight impairment; the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library; election experts in Washington and other states; and designers and application developers. Wyman said the resulting product is “mobile-friendly, easy-to-use and accessible. This…

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WA 2015 General Election certified — now on to 2016!

WA 2015 General Election certified — now on to 2016!

Assistant Secretary of State Mark Neary (left) signs an election document as Gov. Inslee looks on. Gov. Jay Inslee and Assistant Secretary of State Mark Neary made it official Wednesday, certifying the 2015 General Election returns. Over 1.5 million ballots, including thousands from military and overseas voters, were submitted during the voting period. The odd-year election included two state initiatives, two state House races, over 3,000 local government races and 166 measures. “This election put the limelight on local government…

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WA 2015 election is under way

WA 2015 election is under way

  It’s finally here: Washington’s 2015 election period is under way as the 39 counties mail out 4 million ballots and Voters’ Pamphlets begin arriving. Secretary of State Kim Wyman says the emphasis is on important local races and issues that affect our daily lives. There are two statewide ballot measures and two one-year state House vacancies to fill, but no statewide offices or congressional seats are on the ballot this year. Said Wyman: “This election may not have the…

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WA Elections Division contacting 218k potential voters

WA Elections Division contacting 218k potential voters

Washington election officials are sending out postcards this week to about 218,000 state residents who appear eligible to vote, but haven’t registered. The mailing has a simple message that online registration is easy: “3 minutes. Click. Done.” The postcard notes that the recipients aren’t on the voter rolls and that they are invited to register online or by mail by Oct. 5 in order to take part in the General Election. First-time Washington voters may also register in person at…

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