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State Government

WA Election 2014 under way; 62% turnout forecast

WA Election 2014 under way; 62% turnout forecast

Washington’s General Election is under way.  About 65,000 military and overseas ballots were going out by Saturday, Sept. 20, many of them sent electronically, and those voters are able to begin voting as soon as they receive their ballots. The other 3.8 million registered voters will be getting ballots and Voters’ Pamphlets by this time next month. The 18-day voting period kicks off Oct. 17. Ballots can be voted any time after they are received. They may be returned by…

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Happy Constitution Day!

Happy Constitution Day!

(Photos courtesy of Washington State Archives) It doesn’t receive nearly as much attention as Independence Day. It doesn’t offer an excuse to have a barbecue and shoot off fireworks. But Sept. 17 is a very important date in American history. It’s the date when the United States Constitution was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Go here to learn more about the U.S. Constitution, including a closer look at the delegates and the issues…

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Our Capitol, now and way back then

Our Capitol, now and way back then

The Legislative Building as it currently stands. (Photo courtesy of Katy Payne) Washington’s Capitol, known as the Legislative Building, is well known for its grandeur and magnificence. As you stand on one of the 42 steps (the significance being because Washington was the 42nd state) leading to one of the massive 2,000-pound bronze front doors and look up, it might astound you how much larger the building is in person than it seems in photographs. Rising to 287 feet, it…

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Time’s running out for Capitol botanical tour

Time’s running out for Capitol botanical tour

Every day, the Washington State Capitol is open to the public for tours of the Legislative Building. Beginning in the middle of August, a cool new tour was added – a botanical tour of the whole lush campus. In a state known for its abundance of trees and plantings, it only makes sense that the Capitol Campus would be a shining example of Washington’s love of nature. The Olmsted Brothers of Central Park fame were the original designers after all….

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WA Primary voters give their Top 2 verdicts

WA Primary voters give their Top 2 verdicts

The seventh running of Washington’s Top 2 Primary gave voters the task of  winnowing the field of candidates for scores of state and local offices. The system, used since a voter-approved Top 2 initiative got the green light from the U.S. Supreme Court in 2008, lets voters collectively choose their two favorite candidates for each office to face off in the Nov. 4 General Election. Secretary of State Kim Wyman, the state’s chief elections official, urged a strong turnout, reminding…

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2014 WA Primary: Your vote, your voice

2014 WA Primary: Your vote, your voice

Ten years after Washington voters adopted the Top 2 Primary system by initiative, it’s time for the 2014 edition. Check your mail over the next few days for your Primary ballot.  Although it’s a mid-term election, there are races and propositions that are significant for your community, and we’re hoping for an excellent turnout, state Elections Director Lori Augino said this week. The 2014 Primary actually got under way last month when county election officials sent ballots by mail and…

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Honoring state workers who go the Extra Mile

Honoring state workers who go the Extra Mile

Gov. Inslee (left) and Secretary of State Wyman (right) with members of the Department of Transportation’s GeoMetrix team. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Horn) Secretary of State Wyman has joined Gov. Inslee in recognizing more than 30 Washington state employees at the Extra Mile Awards ceremony at the Capitol. “So many of our state employees give 100 percent each and every day, but these workers we’ve honored have truly given that extra effort and commitment,” Wyman said after the Friday event….

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Free food + sun = large crowd at PSRW event

Free food + sun = large crowd at PSRW event

They came, they saw, they ate. Sunny weather and the lure of free food and many vendor/charity booths helped attract hundreds of public employees to the Public Service Recognition Week event on the East Plaza Lawn of the Capitol Campus Wednesday. Hot dogs, potato chips and bottled water were served by volunteers and staffers from many agencies, including the Office of Financial Management and Office of Secretary of State. PSRW is held during May to celebrate the achievements of public…

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Free `GC2G’ exhibit now cooler, with tablets!

Free `GC2G’ exhibit now cooler, with tablets!

Check out a cool new feature of our Grand Coulee to Grunge exhibit   — tablets!  Bilingual translations, great archival photos, drilldown information and more add to the experience of the popular exhibit in the Secretary of State’s lobby in the Capitol. Our Legacy Washington team now has five tablet computers available for office visitors to check out at the front desk to enrich their visit. The exhibit opened late last summer and comes down this October before going on the…

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State employee/manager award nom due

State employee/manager award nom due

Do you know a state employee or manager who goes above and beyond the call of duty? You have until this Friday to nominate him or her for one of two state awards. The Extra Mile Award is given to individuals or groups of state employees who surpass expectations for exemplary public service by demonstrating attributes such as: •    Innovative techniques and methods •    Outstanding leadership •    Visionary thinking •    Personal valor or bravery •    Outstanding customer service •    Or…

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