Last Day To Register For November Election Is Monday

Monday, Oct. 10, is the last day for citizens to register to vote. This can be done online or via mail. It's also the last day to update voter registration information. Washington is one of eight states that allow voter registration and registration updates via the Internet. Visit www.myvote.wa.gov to register online.

“If you haven’t registered to vote or if you need to update your registration, you need to do it soon,” said Secretary of State Sam Reed, Washington’s chief elections officer. “It’s easy, fast and convenient. If your voting information is outdated, you have until the 10th to correct it with your county elections office so you can vote in this important election.”

This the Bonney Lake and Sumner City Councils, Sumner School District board and East Pierce Fire and Rescue commissioners. The election also features three statewide initiatives (I-1125, transportation tolls and funding; I-1163, home health-care workers; and I-1183, privatizing liquor sales) and two state constitutional amendments (Senate Joint Resolution 8205, voting in presidential elections; and SJR 8206, dealing with the budget stabilization account.  

Ballots will be sent out Oct. 21 and must be postmarked, returned to an official drop box, or elections office by Nov. 8.

“There is too much at stake this year to not vote,” Reed said. “But you can’t vote unless you’re registered.”

The latest count shows 3,636,402 Washington residents registered to vote. Statistics compiled by a George Mason University professor for the United States Elections Project show that Washington’s voting-eligible population in 2010 was 4,728,332.

“This means that more than 20 percent of the people who are eligible to vote in Washington haven’t registered,” Reed said. “Since our elections impact all of our lives, it’s disappointing that so many residents in our state haven’t taken that small but important step to register so they can help decide who runs our government.”    

Oct. 31 is the in-person registration deadline for brand new Washington registrations. Voters need to fill out and turn in a voter registration form at their county elections office. Go here to visit Pierce County’s website and get more information about voter registration or about candidates listed on the General Election ballot.

--Information from Secretary of State's Office