By Evan Smith
Voters in south Snohomish County and around Washington state can read personal voters’ guides for the Nov. 8 primary election online.
Voters can get the online voter guides now, rather than wait until after the secretary of state’s office mails voters’ pamphlets by bulk mail from Olympia on Oct. 8.
While the mailed pamphlets contain information on every contest in Snohomish County, online guides are individualized for each voter. So instead of looking at information for three congressional districts, seven legislative districts, a county council district and the public utility district, along with tax levies in several cities and fire districts, a voter near downtown Edmonds would find material only about the 7th Congressional District, the 21st legislative district and other items on his or her ballot, while a voter in Brier would find material about the 2nd Congressional District and the 1st Legislative District.
Every voter can find this by logging in at https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVote5/#/login
Then the Edmonds voter enters his or her name and date of birth. For some reason it doesn’t always work. Voters need to be careful about avoiding spaces before and after their names.
Next, the voter needs to click on “Voters’ Guide.” Then, by clicking on “Measures,” the voter will find material about 10 statewide measures, seven proposed county charter amendments and the sound-transit measure; by clicking on “Federal Candidates,” the voter will find material about the presidential candidates, U.S. Senate candidates and the 7th Congressional District candidates, by clicking on “Statewide Candidates,” the voter will find information about candidates for governor and eight other statewide offices, by clicking on “Legislative Candidates,” the voter will find information on candidates for the two positions in the 21st Legislative District and by clicking on “Judicial candidates,” the voter will find material on three State Supreme Court contest and one Snohomish County Superior Court election. Under local candidates, the voter will find candidates for a PUD position.
The state elections office sends the pamphlets by bulk mail to all residential addresses. It will have information on 11 ballot measures and for candidates for federal, statewide, legislative and judicial offices. Pamphlets in Snohomish County also will have material from the county about local measures and candidates.
Ballots go to registered voters by a faster form of mail Thursday, Oct. 20.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
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