OLYMPIA — Washington state voters may soon receive a postcard from the U.S. Postal Service encouraging voters to “plan ahead” for the Nov. 3 General Election. Among the recommendations is to request a mail-in or absentee ballot at least 15 days before Election Day.
The following is a statement by the Office of the Secretary of State in response to the “If you plan to vote by mail, plan ahead.” postcard.
Issued in collaboration with the Washington State Association of County Auditors.
OLYMPIA — In coordination with Washington’s 39 county election officials, the Office of the Secretary of State Wednesday issued an emergency rule change that requires county officials to use First Class mail when sending ballot packets to voters beginning at least 15 days before Election Day.
Petition filed with Thurston County Superior Court seeks clarity on “crossover signatures” to qualify minor party presidential candidates for the November General Election
OLYMPIA —Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State Monday filed a petition with Thurston County Superior Court seeking expedited clarification as to whether the secretary of state may accept or reject signatures of voters who signed nominating petitions for more than one minor party.
OLYMPIA — Today the Office of the Secretary of State certified Washington’s Aug. 4 Primary Election, in which more than 2.51 million people — or 54.44% of all registered voters in Washington — cast their ballots. The turnout rate is the highest on record for a Primary since 1964 when over 840,000 people voted, representing a 56.06% turnout.
OLYMPIA — The U.S. Postal Service’s capacity to meet the increased service demand during mail-in elections this fall has been cause for concern given President Trump’s recent remarks about the lack of additional funding for the agency.
OLYMPIA —Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman issued the following response to a tweet by President Donald Trump this morning about delaying the 2020 General Election.
“The 2020 General Election will take place Nov. 3 as required by law. Only an act of Congress can change that, and comments from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have assured the American people that the election will take place as planned.
OLYMPIA — The Washington Office of the Secretary of State issued the following response to concerns of potential illegal activity to influence voters in the 42nd Legislative District. Concerns emerged after a candidate running in the district posted a photo on Facebook of a ballot wrapped between a campaign mail piece.
OLYMPIA — Registered voters throughout Washington will soon receive ballots for the upcoming Primary Election.
The Primary Election’s 18-day voting period kicks off Friday, July 17, and lasts through election day, Tuesday, Aug. 4. Ballots include a prepaid-postage envelope, so people who return their ballots via U.S. mail do not have to pay for a stamp. Voters who place their ballots in an official drop box must do so by 8 p.m. on election day. Drop box locations may be found at VoteWA.gov.
OLYMPIA — The Washington Office of the Secretary of State issued the following response to gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp’s claim that his candidate statement was omitted from the online voters’ guide.
OLYMPIA — Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Washington state’s “faithless elector” laws. The Office of the Secretary of State won the lower-court rulings in both the state Superior and Supreme courts, and these decisions were supported today by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Secretary of State Kim Wyman was confident that Washington state’s laws would be reaffirmed. “I am pleased to see that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld our role to ensure the popular vote of the people is represented in the electoral votes cast,” she said.