Heraldnet.com
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2009 9:54 pm
ADVERTISEMENT

LocalNorthwestNation & WorldPoliticsSpecial ReportsPhotosColumnistsMultimedia 
Blog
Midday Snacks
Happy birthday to Sesame Street
Your town news
Julie Muhlstein
Columnist Julie Muhlstein's take on life in Snohomish County.
•Latest: Former prisoner of war humble about his own story
Kristi O'Harran
Columnist Kristi O'Harran writes about people in Snohomish County.
•Latest: Closure of Stanwood mapmaker a sad loss for area
Latest gallery

Memorial for Timothy Brenton
November 6. 2009 (18 photos)
[More Herald photos]
 
WEEK IN REVIEW
Wednesday


81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored...
USO singer's voice still charms them in Edmonds
Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme C...
Tuesday


Fire destroys Emory's restaurant
Peggy Pritchard Olson always put Edmonds first
Camano Island burglaries spike: Is Colton back?
Monday


Tree clearing, mud slide angers Everett neighbor
Later start for school day unlikely in Marysville
Hopes for Snohomish excursion train may hinge o...
Sunday


Glacier Peak freshman overcomes jitters to win ...
Gay marriage issue can wait, say Referendum 71 ...
Cities across south Snohomish County see tax re...
Saturday


Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Ti...
Suspect identified in Seattle police killing
Mountlake Terrace thrilled by high school's fir...
Friday


Officer Timothy Brenton. Gone, but not forgotten
Person sought in officer's killing is shot in head
Thousands to pay respects to slain Seattle poli...
Thursday


Tale of 1916 Everett Massacre retold in style o...
Reservist survived Iraq but not his return to c...
Swine flu suspected in infant’s death
 

ADVERTISEMENT

Local News   Print This Article  Email This Page  Subscribe Now! facebook digg reddit del.icio.us fark stumble

 
ADVERTISEMENT

 
 
CONTACT THE HERALD
Robert Frank, City Editor
frank@heraldnet.com
 
Published: Thursday, October 16, 2008

Ballots go in mail today; GOP prepares for post-election fight

EVERETT -- Ballots will be mailed today to a record number of registered voters in Snohomish County, moving the election process into its final decisive stage.

Sixteen voters didn't wait for the mail.

On Wednesday, they went down to the county elections office and made their choices on touch-screen voting machines set up there.

"It is getting started," said Snohomish County Auditor Carolyn Weikel. "We are seeing a lot of activity at our counters and on the phones indicating it will be a very active election season."

Snohomish County's total of 367,755 registered voters is third most in the state and is about 15,500 more than it had in 2004. Weikel is predicting 85 percent of them will participate.

With the mailing of ballots comes a sense of "cautious excitement," she said.

"This is a huge election. We are choosing a president. We are electing a governor. And we are under intense scrutiny, and we will continue to be through the election," she said.

Everything will be closely monitored because of the experience of 2004 when the governor's race was decided by 133 votes following recounts and a court case.

The state Republican Party, which unsuccessfully contested the result, already is loading up for potential post-election litigation.

Party lawyers asked Snohomish County for copies of all documents that it gives to the county, state and national Democratic Party organizations as well as Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire's campaign.

"They're beginning to collect their data," Weikel said, adding she's been told to expect more public records requests every few days until the election.

The Republican Party also wants documents sent under public disclosure to organizations such as the ACLU, Brennan Center for Justice and the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). In 2006, ACORN canvassers faced charges in Washington for submitting 1,760 falsified registrations.

Election officers in each of the state's 39 counties received the same demand from the political party.

"We just want to know what these various and sundry liberal organizations are up to," party Republican chairman Luke Esser said. "We don't want any surprises this time around. It is all part of our efforts to try to make sure we don't have any of the problems that emerged in 2004."

Democratic Party lawyers have not made a similar request.

As of Wednesday, no problems had surfaced. Weikel said she knew of three people whose registrations have been revoked because they were found to be too young to vote.

Much of the focus today is getting the ballots to voters and to ensure they know to return them by or on Nov. 4.

Also, election workers will be helping those who will be voting by mail for the first time after years of doing so at a polling place.

Many voters do not realize polling places are no longer in use in the county, Weikel said. Those who call the auditor's office seeking the address of their polling site are told a ballot will be mailed to them directly.

Voters who don't want to mail their ballot can drop it off at the county election office. Also, from Oct. 30 to Nov. 4, a number of ballot collection centers will be open around the county.

For those who have never voted in Washington and want to participate in this election, there is still time to register.

The deadline is 5 p.m. Monday. They must register in person at the county elections office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. today, Friday or Monday.

The office also will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

"We were going to be here anyway doing election related work and we wanted to provide an opportunity to those people who work Monday through Friday and might not be able to get into our office," Weikel said.

The auditor's office is on the first floor of the Snohomish County Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave. in Everett.



Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com

Where to vote

Ballots can be dropped off at collection centers starting Oct. 30. Voters with disabilities can cast ballots on touch-screen machines at accessibility centers. Election workers will be on hand to assist voters.

Locations will be staffed 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 30 and 31; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 1 and 3; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 4



Community Collection Centers

Food Pavilion, 146 Haller St. E., Arlington

Starbucks, 3617 172nd St. NE, Arlington

QFC, 22833 Bothell-Everett Highway, Bothell

QFC, 22828 100th Ave. W., Edmonds

QFC, 4919 Evergreen Way, Everett

QFC, 2615 Broadway Ave., Everett

Family Grocer, 1111 Croft Ave., Gold Bar

Red Apple, 115 N. Granite Ave., Granite Falls

Joe's, 519 Highway 9, Lake Stevens

QFC, 17525 Highway 99, Lynnwood

QFC, 7500 196th St. SW, Lynnwood

Staples, 105 Fourth St., Marysville

Starbucks, 3701 88th St. NE, Marysville

QFC, 926 164th St. SE, Mill Creek

Galaxy Theaters, 1 Galaxy Way, Monroe

QFC, 22803 44th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace

QFC, 11700 Mukilteo Speedway, Mukilteo

Starbucks, 1101 Ave. D, Snohomish

QFC, 27008 92nd Ave. NW, Stanwood

Red Apple, 807 W. Stevens Ave., Sultan



Accessible Voting

Arlington Library, 135 N. Washington Ave., Arlington

Edmonds Library, 650 Main St., Edmonds

Everett Public Library, 2702 Hoyt Ave., Everett

Lynnwood Library, 19200 44th Ave. W., Lynnwood

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 7215 51st Ave. NE, Marysville

Mill Creek Library, 15429 Bothell-Everett Highway, Mill Creek

Monroe Library, 1070 Village Way, Monroe

Mountlake Terrace Library, 23300 58th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace

Mukilteo Library, 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd., Mukilteo

Snohomish Library, 311 Maple Ave., Snohomish

Stanwood Library, 9701 271st St. NW, Stanwood

READER COMMENTS
Be the first to comment.
You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet.

To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click hereLog out

1. Emory’s owner fears fire was arson
2. Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme Court
3. Vatican ponders the souls in space
4. 81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored in Snohomish
5. Hope dims that Olympics will boost region
6. Student hit in crosswalk to return
7. Smokey Point to celebrate end of roadwork
8. Death on Edmonds waterfront ruled a suicide
9. Help for young moms may continue
10. Semifinal slate sealed on ‘Dancing With Stars’
Enterprise Newspaper Snohomish County Business Journal
Bazaar Fever
Hawks proud of historic season
Olson always put Edmonds first
Honoring student veterans
‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop
Mavs build early lead en route to easy win
Prep football games of the week (state playoffs)
Tears of laughter, tears of grief
Death on Edmonds beach likely a suicide
The Enterprise Online Newspaper


$5 Off
Stylecut

20% Off Dinner
Up to $75 Value!

FREE Appetizer w/
purchase of 2 entrees

Buffet Dining
Tulalip Resort

Pacific Northwest
Fresh Cuisine

Oil - Snohomish County
Low Prices - Fill Now!

15% Off Your
First Time Purchase

Family Night Free Sundae
$9.99 Prime Rib

Free Dessert!
Click here!

All you can Eat Buffets
Angel of the Winds

FREE 6 lb. Pad w/
30yd Carpet Purchase

$2 OFF
at Box Office

QuadraFire Save $250
Free Smart-Stat

Free Garlic Bread/Free Soda
Click here for details!

Great Food
24 Hours a Day

Lube, Oil & Filter
Buy 1 - Get 1 FREE

20% off Click Here*
Buy 1 Offer Click Here*

$5 OFF
Lunch or Dinner

50% off 2nd Pizza
Special Click Here!

$1 off French Dip
$4.99 Burger Basket

Come and Relax
Monthly Specials

FREE Appetizer with any
purchase daily 2-6pm

25% off Bath & Groom
New Customers

Island Flavors with
Finest NW Ingredients
TODAY'S TOP JOBS
 View All Top Jobs 
Top Cars
Top Homes

ADVERTISEMENT