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Category: Voter registration

Secretary Wyman, auditors propose election reforms

Secretary Wyman, auditors propose election reforms

Secretary of State Kim Wyman and county election leaders have announced a bipartisan proposal to clear the way to check for citizenship of people who want to register and vote in Washington. At a news conference in Spokane on Friday, Wyman and county partners proposed legislation for the upcoming session that would adopt the REAL ID Act for Washington. That would mean people would have to present citizenship verification to get a driver’s license, and election administrators could then do…

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Facebook helps spread the word: Register to vote!

Facebook helps spread the word: Register to vote!

Facebook has launched an internet drive to prompt people to register to vote, including many in Washington. From Friday through Monday, Sept. 26, people on Facebook who are 18 and older will get a reminder at the top of their news feed urging them to get registered to vote – or if they already are registered, to remind their FB friends to do so. Secretary of State  Kim Wyman, the state’s chief elections official, said Washington could set a single-day…

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WA Elections Division reaching out to 140k potential voters

WA Elections Division reaching out to 140k potential voters

Washington’s state Elections Division is sending out postcards to 140,000 state residents who appear eligible to vote, but haven’t yet registered. Many of the cards will go to new 18 year olds and to millennials between 19 and 35. The mailings will have a catchy, humorous graphic and information on how to quickly register online by Oct. 10. About 21,000 will go to 18 year olds and 72,000 to those 19-35. Eligible but unregistered 18 year olds will receive this…

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WA General Election voting kicks off this week

WA General Election voting kicks off this week

Washington’s General Election voting season gets under way in just a few days, with counties sending ballots to over 72,000 military and overseas voters around the globe. Federal law provides extra transit time for military and overseas voters, with counties required to send out ballots 45 days before Election Day. This year, that’s Saturday, Sept. 24. A number of soldiers and others have also requested electronic versions. Still others use federal write-in ballots via the Federal Voting Assistance Program at…

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July 4 is online voter registration deadline for Primary

July 4 is online voter registration deadline for Primary

Independence Day (happy birthday, America!) is this Monday. Here’s wishing everyone a fun and safe Fourth of July weekend. July 4 is also the deadline to register online or make updates to your existing voter registration before this summer’s state Primary. If you want to mail in your voter registration form to vote in the Primary, it has to be postmarked by July 2, since post offices won’t have counter service/postmarks on Sunday or on the holiday.  If you’re not…

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Key deadlines and dates for 2016 WA Primary

Key deadlines and dates for 2016 WA Primary

Washington voters soon will have the chance to have their voices heard by voting in the 2016 state Primary. County elections officials will be mailing Primary ballots to registered voters around July 15. Military and overseas ballots were sent out June 18. If you’re not registered to vote, you can’t take part in this important step to winnow down the list of candidates to two in each race for this fall’s General Election. July 4 is the last day you…

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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.

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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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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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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