Browsed by
Tag: Top 2

Top 2 Primary producing finalists for WA General Election

Top 2 Primary producing finalists for WA General Election

Washington voters began clearing the decks for the fall General Election by choosing their favorite candidates to advance, using a qualifying election called the Top 2 Primary. There were surprises — such as several state Senate and House incumbents who were attempting to fend off strong challenges — and the twist of producing several marquee November matchups that will feature finalists from the same party. For the first time, it appears that two candidates from the same party will vie…

Read More Read More

Top 2 Primary produces November finalists

Top 2 Primary produces November finalists

Washington voters made ready for the fall General Election by choosing their favorites to advance beyond the first cut — the qualifying election called the Top 2 Primary. There were surprises — such as several state Senate incumbents who were attempting to fend off strong challenges — and the twist of producing several marquee November finals that will feature finalists from the same party preference. Prime example: 4th Congressional District voters in Eastern Washington were choosing two Republicans, former Super…

Read More Read More

WA Primary voters give their Top 2 verdicts

WA Primary voters give their Top 2 verdicts

The seventh running of Washington’s Top 2 Primary gave voters the task of  winnowing the field of candidates for scores of state and local offices. The system, used since a voter-approved Top 2 initiative got the green light from the U.S. Supreme Court in 2008, lets voters collectively choose their two favorite candidates for each office to face off in the Nov. 4 General Election. Secretary of State Kim Wyman, the state’s chief elections official, urged a strong turnout, reminding…

Read More Read More

Lawmakers OK Reed military voting bill, earlier primary

Lawmakers OK Reed military voting bill, earlier primary

Washington lawmakers have voted to move the state’s primary election two weeks earlier and to make it easier for our military and overseas voters to cast ballots electronically.  Secretary of State Sam Reed, who championed the legislation, hailed the Senate’s unanimous vote Thursday that sent the measure to Governor Gregoire for her signature. The measure, Senate Bill 5171, allows service members and Washington voters abroad to return their voted ballots by fax or email, as many states do. Currently, ballots…

Read More Read More

Top 2: Federal judge keeps some party challenges alive

Top 2: Federal judge keeps some party challenges alive

Washington’s voter-approved Top 2 Primary system, which was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last year, got a mixed-blessing ruling from U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on Thursday. Secretary of State Sam Reed, represented by Attorney General Rob McKenna, had urged the court to dismiss a continuing legal challenge by the political parties that has persisted ever since the voters approved the new wide-open winnowing primary in 2004 as Initiative 872, even following the strong 7-2 ruling by the…

Read More Read More

Voter registration deadline coming right up

Voter registration deadline coming right up

New to Washington and want to register to vote for the first time?  Just moved across town and need to update your address?  Time’s ticking! Saturday, July 18, is the deadline for changing your address and voter registrations for mail-in or online forms if you want to vote in the August 18 Primary Election! (Remember, thanks to our Top 2 Primary system, your primary votes determine who moves on to the General  Election in November, so it’s really important you…

Read More Read More

Reed & Grange (heart) Top 2 Primary

Reed & Grange (heart) Top 2 Primary

Secretary of State Sam Reed was among friends when he addressed the state Grange Convention in Longview.  The Top 2 reasons for their alliance: both are tireless advocates of the state’s voter-approved Top 2 Primary system, and Reed is about to kick off a centennial celebration for women’s suffrage in Washington, which the Grange promoted heavily 100 years ago.    When the courts overturned the state’s beloved wide-open “blanket” primary and voters hated being confined to one party’s slate of candidates, Reed and the Grange led…

Read More Read More

Economist mag touts Washington’s sensible voters

Economist mag touts Washington’s sensible voters

Fresh from watching yet another meltdown in California (“the ungovernable state”), the folks at influential Economist magazine are singing the praises of “sensible” Washington state.  A piece in the latest edition touts “remarkably moderate politics” and can-do state government, and suggests that our tradition of ticket-splitting,  independence and the Top 2 primary could be an explanation. “You do tend to get people who fit the centre [that’s Brit for center, people] of the electorate” by advancing the two most popular candidates to the General…

Read More Read More

Reed touts Top 2 legislation

Reed touts Top 2 legislation

Secretary of State Sam Reed, making in his first appearance of the session to a legislative committee, will urge lawmakers today to approve changes to strengthen Washington’s popular Top 2 Primary. Reed, the state’s chief elections official, will testify before the Senate Governmental Operations Committee at 3:30 p.m., on Senate Bill 5681.  The measure would strengthen the state’s voter-approved primary system, eliminating references to the unpopular old pick-a-party primary that limited voters to one party’s candidaites.  The Top 2 approach,…

Read More Read More