We may not be voting on the president, but this is still an important election! Here’s why: Half of the King County Council and all nine of the Seattle City Council are up for reelection, it’s a big year! Voting is important and helps ensure that people’s voices are being heard. Encourage our whole community to take part! Help ensure that every eligible voter is registered and votes in this August’s primary election.
Voter Registration Deadline for Primary Election: Monday, July 6
Primary Election date: Tuesday, August 4
Voter Registration Deadline for General Election: Monday, October 5
November General Election Date: Tuesday, November 3
Registration information and tips – Here’s a few helpful tips and important information. Please use our Guide for Homeless and Unstably Housed Voters for more specifics about helping those who don’t have a house register.
- Registration Deadline: Monday, July 6 for mail or online new registrations & updates
- In-person registration for *people not currently registered in Washington State* is available until Monday, July 27, 2015 at King County Elections Offices:
- Renton HQ: 919 SW Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057-2906
- Seattle Office: King County Administration Building: 500 4th Avenue, Room 440, Seattle, WA 98104
- In-person registration for *people not currently registered in Washington State* is available until Monday, July 27, 2015 at King County Elections Offices:
- Do I need an address to vote?
- Residential address: MUST fill this out so voter can be assigned to a precinct. The residential address does not need to be a house/apartment. Voters should put the street, intersection, or shelter where they stay most often. (i.e. 4th Ave & Cherry St.)
- Mailing address: voters MUST provide a mailing address because ballot will be mailed to voter. See our guide for places to receive mail in the county, such as Compass Housing Alliance (77 S. Washington St, Seattle, 98104). If you work at a place where clients can receive mail, they can use that address as a mailing address.
- Felony conviction? Individuals convicted of felonies automatically regain their right to vote once they have completed their time in prison and no longer are under Department of Corrections (DOC) supervision. Visit the ACLU’s website for more information.
- What if I (or someone I am helping) am not sure if I am still registered?
- If you did not get a ballot in the mail in April for the special election, your registration may have lapsed. Because all voting is by mail, the state doesn’t want to pay postage if they aren’t sure if someone is still at the same address, so if a ballot is not returned for 2 years, they deactivate your registration. If a person has access to the internet they can check their voting status here.
- How to fix this?
- Fill out a new registration form, or complete a registration online. It never hurts to send in a form even if someone isn’t sure if they need to or not, but it wouldn’t be fun to not receive a ballot during the election.
Voting in the August 4 Election:
- Ballots are mailed to voters 20 days prior to the election. If you have not received your ballot by Monday, July 15 call King County Elections: 206-296-8683
- Ballot drop boxes & Accessible voting
- Locations and information will be available the first week of July on the King County Elections Website: http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/voting/ballot-return.aspx
The Coalition on Homelessness will offer a formal voter registration training in the fall before the registration deadline for the November General Election. If you are interested in more information please contact Hillary. Remember, voting is a form of making one’s voice heard: people experiencing homelessness in our region need to be heard. Let’s work together to make sure all eligible community members are registered to vote.