Monday Last Day to Register to Vote in November Election

Monday, Oct. 10, is the last day for citizens to register via online or via mail or to update their voter registration information. You can click www.myvote.wa.gov to register online. Washington is one of eight states that allow voter registration and registration updates via the Internet.

Due to the Columbus Day holiday, will be closed so voter registration forms must be postmarked by Saturday to be valid in time for the General Election, according to Secretary of State Sam Reed.

“If you haven’t registered to vote or if you need to update your registration, you need to do it soon,” said 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 If your voting information is outdated, you have until the 10th to correct it with your county elections office so you can vote in this important election.”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 a Mercer Island City Council race between and (Patch will host a city council candidates forum on Oct. 18 at Islander Middle School), , County Elections Director and two Port of Seattle Commissioner races. 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 go out by Oct. 21 and must be postmarked or returned to an official drop box or elections office by Nov. 8. There are no drop-boxes on Mercer Island — the closest are located in Seattle and Bellevue.

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

As of latest count, there are 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 King 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