Time is running out if you want to register to vote in next month’s presidential primary.
Monday is the last day to register online or by mail for the May 24 election. It is also the deadline to update an existing registration.
New voters can register up until May 16, but after Monday must do so in person at the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office, 3000 Rockefeller Ave. in Everett.
Meanwhile, voter pamphlets are starting to arrive at residences.
The pamphlets containing statements from presidential candidates of the Republican and Democratic parties are being mailed to 3.3 million households by the Secretary of State’s office.
The Democratic hopefuls are Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders and the Republican candidates are Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich.
Though Republican Ben Carson dropped out of the race, he did not submit a signed form withdrawing from the state’s primary so he gets a page in the pamphlet and a spot on the ballot, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
The voter guide is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese, as well as in text and audio format for voters with disabilities.
Ballots will be mailed May 5 and will need to be returned or postmarked by May 24.
This election is of critical importance to Republicans because the results will be used to allocate the party’s 44 delegates among Trump, Cruz and Kasich.
The Democratic Party will not use the outcome because it relies on its caucus process to apportion its delegates. Sanders defeated Clinton in the party’s March 26 caucuses.
Voting in a presidential primary is a little different than other elections because it is being conducted for the Democratic and Republican parties.
While voters do not register by party, they must choose and sign a political party declaration on the return ballot envelope and vote for a candidate of that same party.
Those who fail to follow those steps will not have their ballot counted.
For information on the primary or to register online, go to www.vote.wa.gov.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com
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