Aug. 1, 2007
Make voting part of your summer plans
Absentee ballots and voters' pamphlets in the mail
This year's earlier primary is near and voters are urged to make voting part of their summer plans. With three weeks until the August 21 primary, King County Election today mailed 615,000 ballots. Ballots were mailed to voters serving in the military, living overseas and out of state on July 20 to allow extra transit time for delivery.
"Important decisions about parks, fire districts and three proposed annexations are up for a vote on the August 21 primary and it is critical voters remember to make their voices heard one month earlier this year," said Sherril Huff, Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division Director. "Poll voters especially need to adjust their schedules to the earlier primary and plan ahead to make sure their summer plans include voting."
Any poll voter who can't make it to their neighborhood polling place can request an absentee ballot by phone at 206-296-VOTE (8683) or online at King County Elections' Web site https://www.metrokc.gov/elections/absentee/onetime_form.htm .
Primary ballots are 14-inches long this year and will require one $0.41 stamp. Absentee voters are urged to take a couple of extra steps to ensure their ballot does not require additional postage. First, remove the stub from the top of the ballot. Second, avoid sending a note in your voted ballot packet. Non-essential paper could add weight and require additional postage. Ballots without postage can be dropped off at any polling location on Tuesday, August 21 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters who do not receive their absentee ballot in the mail by Friday, Aug. 10 should call 206-296-VOTE.
Sherril Huff, Director of Records, Elections and Licensing Services, projects a 29 percent overall turnout of King County's 993,515 registered voters, a turnout consistent for previous odd-year elections.
Pick-a-party primary
This year's primary is different than it has been in the past, due to a legislative change. Voters may only vote for candidates of one political party. Votes for the other political party's candidates will not count. Votes for non-partisan offices and ballot measures will be counted even if you choose not to vote for partisan races.
The ballot is color-coded with blue and red party designations, reminding voters that voting in the primary is as easy as 1-2-3:
- Pick a party by making your selection at the top of the ballot.
- Vote for candidates in that party (each party has its own section on the ballot).
- Complete the ballot by voting in the nonpartisan races and on ballot measures, even if you choose not to select a party.
Local Voters' Pamphlet in the mail
The King County Local Voters' Pamphlet will also arrive at households this week. In addition to information about the candidates and measures on the ballot, the pamphlet provides information on accessible polling places and voting options, general voting information and the safeguarding of every ballot each step of the process.
The Local Voters' Pamphlet is available in English and Chinese in print format and the Web at www.kingcounty.gov/elections. Printed copies of the pamphlet are also offered in Braille, large-type and audio cassette formats by request.
The county's voter information hotline 206-296-VOTE (8683) is available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Automated telephone assistance is available during off hours and on weekends.
IMPORTANT VOTER INFORMATION
To vote in the primary, new residents to Washington must register to vote in-person at the King County Elections office or at any Community Service Center by Monday, Aug. 6, 2007. These voters will receive an absentee ballot for this election.
King County Elections is located in the King County Administration Building, 500 Fourth Avenue, Room 553 in Seattle.
Absentee voters who do not receive their absentee ballot in the mail by Friday, Aug. 10, 2007 should call 206-296-VOTE (8683). |
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