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Elections

WA students can vote in PrezPrimary Mock Election

WA students can vote in PrezPrimary Mock Election

While Washington voters will have until May 24 to fill out and return their Presidential Primary ballots, thousands of students in grades K-12 soon will have their own chance to experience voting by taking part in a special Presidential Primary Mock Election. The Mock Election lets students experience “voting” for presidential candidates. Sponsored by the Office of Secretary of State, the Mock Election is a nonpartisan educational program that teaches kids to be informed voters. Like the regular Student Mock…

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WA Presidential Primary under way

WA Presidential Primary under way

Washington’s 2016 Presidential Primary ballots are being mailed to voters this week, and Secretary of State Kim Wyman is urging a robust turnout. “It’s Washington’s turn to be heard,” Wyman says. “It’s true that we are late on the election calendar this year, but I have honestly never seen Washington voters so engaged in the Presidential Primary contests on both sides of the aisle. “Both of the presumptive nominees are still hoping to go over the top with their national…

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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.

MyVote accessibility upgrade draws applause

MyVote accessibility upgrade draws applause

The Washington State Elections Division is drawing acclaim for accessibility upgrades to the state’s popular online voter information tool called MyVote. Two of the nation’s leading election blogs called attention to the recent re-launch of the portal. Mindy Moretti over at ElectionlineWeekly called it “mobile-friendly, easy-to-use and, importantly, accessible.” She wrote that because the site was “already a pretty comprehensive personalized voter tool, the state didn’t need to expand any functionality and was instead able to focus on improving the…

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WA PrezPrimary Voters’ Pamphlet coming soon

WA PrezPrimary Voters’ Pamphlet coming soon

Washington’s Presidential Primary Voters’ Pamphlet will begin hitting mailboxes this Saturday. The slim publication will be going out to nearly 3.3 million households. The pamphlet includes a concise explanation of how the PrezPrimary works, including the requirement that voters mark a political party declaration, sign it, and then proceed to vote for one candidate on the party list of their choice. The pamphlet gives each of the candidates a page to provide a statement, background, and contact information. The Democrats…

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Special election ends April 26

Special election ends April 26

While many in Washington are looking forward to the state’s first Presidential Primary in eight years, about a quarter of the state’s registered voters have a chance to vote in an earlier election — the April Special Election. Ballots have been sent to 981,687 voters (24 percent of the state’s registered voters) in 22 of Washington’s 39 counties. Voters need to return their ballots at drop boxes or have them postmarked by April 26 in order to count. The special…

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WA voters: 4 million strong!

WA voters: 4 million strong!

  Secretary of State Kim Wyman and Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson headlined an event to celebrate a milestone: Washington has surpassed 4 million registered voters for the first time in state history. During the ceremony at Anderson’s offices in Tacoma on Monday, Wyman and Anderson introduced the 4 millionth voter, 18-year-old Katarina Gruber of Pierce County. Gruber went to Pierce County Elections on her birthday in late March to register to vote in person. “This is a big moment…

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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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Presidential Primary voting season under way

Presidential Primary voting season under way

Washington counties are sending about 65,000 Presidential Primary ballots to military and overseas voters this week. This signals the start of voting on favorites for the Republican and Democratic nominations. The rest of the state’s 4 million voters will get their ballots early next month. The 18-day voting period begins May 6, and ballots must be returned or postmarked by May 24. Military and overseas voters, including Peace Corps volunteers, missionaries, business people and other Washington citizens living abroad, get…

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