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Elections

Heritage Center, election bills top Wyman’s wishlist

Heritage Center, election bills top Wyman’s wishlist

Resuming the Washington State Heritage Center project and enacting election improvements are the centerpieces of new Secretary of State Kim Wyman’s legislative package. Wyman unveiled her 2013 legislative agenda in her office Friday morning during a gathering with members of the Capitol Press Corps. Wyman introduced several division directors and most of her executive team during the informal get-together with the media. The Heritage Center, which would house the State Archives, State Library, historical exhibits, an educational center and other…

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After 45 years in public life, Sam Reed bids farewell

After 45 years in public life, Sam Reed bids farewell

(Photo courtesy of  Legislative Support Services Photography) Secretary of State Sam Reed bade a fond farewell to the people of Washington Tuesday after 45 years in public life, including 35 years as a state and county elected official. Addressing a joint session of the Legislature, Reed brought along a special reminder of his family’s long connection to Washington politics and government — his grandfather Sam Sumner’s battered leather briefcase.  Exactly 100 years earlier, Sumner, a state GOP chairman and longtime…

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Voter registration deadlines looming

Voter registration deadlines looming

The state’s General Election may have been just two months ago, but it’s voter registration time if you want to vote in upcoming special elections. A number of school, fire, EMS, park, cemetery and transportation  districts throughout Washington will hold elections on Feb. 12 to vote on special levies. In addition, Silverdale area voters in Kitsap County will vote on an incorporation measure. Thirty-two of Washington’s 39 counties have a special election that day. For the February elections, Monday, Jan….

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National Guard honors Secretary Reed

National Guard honors Secretary Reed

Throughout his years as Washington’s chief elections officer, Secretary Reed has made it a high priority to give our state’s military voters access to voting, as they are defenders of democracy. Reed’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. The Washington Army National Guard has recognized the soon-to-retire Secretary for his service in support of the National Guard, especially with voter registration during deployment preparation. Major General Bret D. Daugherty of the Army National Guard, at ceremonies at the Capitol Monday, presented Reed…

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WA initiative season opens with Eyman & GMO labeling

WA initiative season opens with Eyman & GMO labeling

Washington’s second century of “direct democracy” has opened. Sponsors of two initiatives to the Legislature submitted boxloads of petitions Thursday in support of measures dealing with the initiative process itself and requiring labeling of genetically engineered foodstuffs. Sponsors of both measures submitted what they described as 340,000 or more signatures, and thus appear virtually assured of validation during the random sampling process that begins after the petitions are imaged for safekeeping and potential public records release by the State Archives….

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WA Electoral College: All 12 votes for Obama

WA Electoral College: All 12 votes for Obama

Reflecting the winner-take-all nature of the Electoral College system, Washington’s electors on Monday awarded all 12 of the state’s electoral votes to the Democratic ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The event, convened by Secretary of State Sam Reed and Gov. Chris Gregoire, went off the clockwork.  The carefully scripted, time-honored process was much like the one taking place in all state capitals. As flags outside the Capitol stood at half-staff, electors gathered in the State Reception Room and…

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Initiative signature requirement re-set

Initiative signature requirement re-set

The task of qualifying an initiative or referendum for the Washington ballot just got a little harder. The state Constitution pegs the number of signatures required for an initiative at 8 percent of the most recent vote for governor. The requirement for a referendum — forcing a public vote on something the Legislature has passed, as in the recent R-74 on gay marriage — is 4 percent of the governor vote. In returns certified Wednesday, votes cast for governor this…

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WA voters: Yes to gay marriage, Obama & Democrats …

WA voters: Yes to gay marriage, Obama & Democrats …

But the governor’s race, the marquee state contest in the General Election, remains very close.  Democrat Jay Inslee, who gave up a safe congressional seat to run for the office being vacated by two-term Gov. Chris Gregoire, led Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna 51.32 percent to 48.68 percent, or about 50,000 votes out of nearly 1.9 million counted.  Inslee told cheering supporters it looked like victory, but didn’t declare himself the winner in so many words.  McKenna, still seeing a…

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Secretary Reed: YOUR vote is your voice

Secretary Reed: YOUR vote is your voice

Secretary of State Sam Reed is urging voters to take part in “one of the most significant and interesting elections in modern times.”  He said enthusiasm is “sky-high” in Washington, which regularly enjoys one of the best voter participation rates in the country. Reed noted that more than 8 out of 10 voters are expected to cast ballots, with some counties forecasting turnout even higher than the 81 percent he has predicted statewide.  He said he would be delighted, of…

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Student voter turnout nothing to Mock

Student voter turnout nothing to Mock

If “voter” turnout in this week’s Student Mock Election is any indication, next week’s General Election should have an overwhelming number of Washingtonians voting. The Mock Election, which ended early Friday afternoon after starting Monday, saw a record-shattering total of 38,848 students take part. That’s more than double the old record of about 18,000, set in 2008. “I’m really impressed with the huge increase in the number of students voting in this year’s Mock Election!” said Secretary of State Sam…

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