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Elections

WA Electors gathering at Capitol

WA Electors gathering at Capitol

The 32nd Washington Electoral College convenes at the state Capitol at high noon on Dec. 19, taking part in a time-honored ritual of awarding the state’s electoral votes for president and vice president. Amid speculation that several of the 12 delegates will choose to be “faithless” electors, the College will assemble in the ornate State Reception Room, hosted by Secretary of State Kim Wyman and Gov. Jay Inslee. The state went for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump and dozens of…

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Gov. Inslee & Secretary Wyman certify 2016 election

Gov. Inslee & Secretary Wyman certify 2016 election

Secretary Wyman and Gov. Inslee certify the 2016 General Election returns. (Photos courtesy of Patrick McDonald) Secretary of State Kim Wyman and Gov. Jay Inslee have certified the returns for the 2016 General Election, including a record number of ballot measures and hotly contested races from the White House to local offices. The election drew record voter registrations of nearly 4.3 million and the most ballots ever counted in the state, over 3.36 million.  The turnout was nearly 79 percent,…

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2016 Election: Record 3.36m ballots counted

2016 Election: Record 3.36m ballots counted

Washington counties have certified the returns in the hotly contested 2016 elections that attracted record voter registrations of nearly 4.3 million and the most ballots ever counted in the state, over 3.36 million.  The turnout was nearly 79 percent, a strong showing nationally. The spike in voter engagement reflects the four-year cycle of elections, with the presidential-gubernatorial always generating the most interest and turnout. Voters’ plates were full this year. Besides the heavily publicized race for president, voters were choosing…

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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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Stay on top of election with election results app

Stay on top of election with election results app

Once the General Election voting period ends Tuesday at 8 p.m., candidates, voters, the media and political junkies can use our free election results mobile app to get the latest results on statewide races or ballot measures. The app has been a huge hit since debuting a few years ago. If you have a smartphone, just download the app for your iPhone, Android or Windows Phone devices. In addition to providing results for state offices and ballot measures in the…

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2016 Mock Election nearly breaks turnout record

2016 Mock Election nearly breaks turnout record

6th graders at Frontier Middle School in Pierce County who voted in Mock Election. (Photo courtesy Bethel School District) Washington’s adult voters apparently aren’t the only ones energized by the white-hot General Election. Judging by last week’s Mock Election, K-12 students are just as engaged. A near-record 38,528 students voted in the 2016 Mock Election, just 320 off the all-time record set in 2012. “We are very pleased that so many students took part in the Mock Election last week,”…

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Student Mock Election is under way!

Student Mock Election is under way!

Washington voters have until Nov. 8 to vote their General Election ballots, but the state’s K-12 students this week have their own voting experience by taking part in the annual State Mock Election. Now in its 12th year, The Mock Election began Monday morning and ends this Friday at 1 p.m. It’s free and open to all Washington K-12 students who attend public, private or tribal school or are homeschooled. Sponsored by the Office of Secretary of State, the Mock…

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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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`Watershed year’: WA voting season under way!

`Watershed year’: WA voting season under way!

Washington’s voting period for the 2016 Election is under way, with counties mailing about 4.2 million ballots and awaiting a robust turnout of at least 80 percent. A handful of counties sent ballots on Tuesday and nearly all the rest were scheduled to go out Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is the deadline for outbound mail. Deadline for a postmark is Election Day, Nov. 8, and drop boxes may be used before 8 p.m. that day. A record 4,250,526 Washington residents…

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Secretary Wyman: Charges of rigged US elections `irresponsible’

Secretary Wyman: Charges of rigged US elections `irresponsible’

Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman released this statement Tuesday: In recent days, we have heard heated campaign rhetoric about American elections being “rigged” and somehow predetermined. This kind of baseless accusation is irresponsible and threatens to undermine voter confidence on this most basic foundation of democracy. As a 24-year election administrator at the state and local level, with close relationships with the national elections community, federal security experts and independent academics, I have full and complete confidence in our…

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