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Elections

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Understanding the February Special Election

Understanding the February Special Election

Did you know there’s an election coming up on Tuesday, February 13th? Springtime special elections sometimes get overlooked, especially when it feels like the recent November election is so fresh in mind. But in the February 2018 special election, 65 percent of Washington’s registered voters are eligible to participate — that’s 2,753,553 people. Voters from all but two counties have issues and/or races on the February ballot. San Juan and Skamania are the exceptions, but not all other counties have…

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Student with I Voted sticker
Student Mock Election results mirror statewide outcome

Student Mock Election results mirror statewide outcome

Each year, students across Washington get to participate in a mock election to show how they would vote on candidates and measures if given the chance in real life. The Mock Election is a non-partisan, educational event that teaches kids to be informed voters. Nearly 180,000 students have voted in Washington’s annual Mock Election since 2004. Students vote on the same measures and candidates adults will decide. Not surprisingly, the student results were very similar to those of Washington’s registered voters who…

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WTBBL hosts event to help voters with disabilities

WTBBL hosts event to help voters with disabilities

In conjunction with Get out the Disability Vote Week, the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library  hosted an event to help members of the disability community take part in this summer’s Primary. Accessible voting units were made available at WTBBL Wednesday for voters who need assistance completing their ballot. The event was a partnership between WTBBL and the National Federation of the Blind of Washington, Washington Council of the Blind, King County Elections and the state Elections Division. WTBBL is…

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Secretary Wyman presents an award to Mason County Auditor Karen Herr.
Wyman honors outstanding county elections workers

Wyman honors outstanding county elections workers

During the 2017 state Elections Conference this week at the Skamania Lodge, Secretary Wyman and many in our Elections Division are joining Washington’s county auditors and their elections employees to learn or share new ideas and practices that will allow them to run elections even better at the county and state levels. Wyman and state Elections Division Director Lori Augino presented the state elections awards Wednesday. Award winners include: • Pierce County Auditor  Julie Anderson received the Auditor of the…

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Photo of Elections Division staff after Candidate Filing Week ended.ing
Filing Week makes it official for thousands of candidates

Filing Week makes it official for thousands of candidates

Washington’s 2017 election cycle is officially under way following last Friday’s completion of Candidate Filing Week. This year’s Filing Week produced a total of 3,232 candidates (which includes state and county filings) for more than 3,100 offices open this year. To find out who filed in each of our 39 counties, go here. Perhaps the most-watched local race in the state will be for Seattle mayor, a position that saw 21 candidates throw their hats into the ring. Candidates filed…

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Candidate Filing Week
Candidate Filing Week runs May 15-19

Candidate Filing Week runs May 15-19

Many candidates already have been running for weeks or months, but the official start to campaign season in Washington – Candidate Filing Week – is next week, May 15-19. Nearly all of the 3,100-plus offices open for this election this year are local offices, such as city council, school district, fire district, port district and other races, including Seattle mayor. There are eight legislative races (see which district you’re in here), two Court of Appeals elections in King County, one…

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April Special Election under way

April Special Election under way

Nearly 10 percent of Washington’s registered voters are receiving ballots for the 2017 April Special Election voting period that ends April 25. The state Elections Division reports that mail ballots were sent by last Friday to 388,362 voters (9 percent of state’s registered voters) in 15 counties for this election. Nearly 306,000 of the April voters are found in Spokane County. Military and overseas ballots were sent out in March. Measures facing voters include school, fire, hospital, city and county….

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Presidential Primary bill will encourage more voter participation, says Wyman

Presidential Primary bill will encourage more voter participation, says Wyman

It’s time for Washington to move its Presidential Primary earlier in the year so the state has a more relevant role in choosing the Democratic and Republican nominees, Secretary of State Kim Wyman told a House panel. Wyman testified Wednesday afternoon before the House State Government, Elections and Information Technology Committee on Senate Bill 5333, a bipartisan proposal prime-sponsored by Sen. Mark Miloscia, chair of the Senate State Government Committee. The Senate passed the measure 34-15 earlier this session. The…

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OSOS legislative package includes Presidential Primary date change, other election reforms

OSOS legislative package includes Presidential Primary date change, other election reforms

Secretary of State Kim Wyman is proposing a date change for Washington’s Presidential Primary, as well as other reforms of the state’s elections system as part of her package of requested bills to the Legislature this year. Wyman is asking legislators to make a few modifications to the state’s Presidential Primary, including moving its date from the fourth Tuesday in May to the second Tuesday in March. “The lateness of Washington’s Presidential Primary last year made it clear that we…

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WA Electoral College: 8 votes for Clinton, 4 `faithless’ voters for others

WA Electoral College: 8 votes for Clinton, 4 `faithless’ voters for others

Members of Washington’s Electoral College cast their votes for President Monday at the Capitol. (Photo courtesy Brian Zylstra) Washington’s Electoral College made national news Monday when four “faithless” electors declined to vote for Hillary Clinton, who carried the state 54-38 over Donald Trump. Eight electors cast ballots for Secretary Clinton, three votes went to former Republican Secretary of State Colin Powell and one elector voted for Faith Spotted Eagle, an activist opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline. It was the first…

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