Election Day is officially a week away! Can you believe it? With ballots mailed and drop boxes open since mid-October, here at King County Elections, we’ve been in the middle of an election for a while now and are going full speed ahead!

Here are some answers to some commonly frequent questions we’ve received. And if you’re still not sure, that’s OK! We have a voter hotline you can call 206-296-VOTE (8683) to help you figure it out. 

Can I still register to vote? How?

Monday, October 25 was the deadline to register to vote online or by mail. But don’t worry! You can still register to vote in-person at any one of our Vote Centers that open this Saturday, October 30, are open on Monday, November 1, and close on Election Day, November 2, 8p.m. sharp. Click here to find your nearest Vote Center location and schedule. 

Anxious and want to get registered ASAP? Here at our headquarters in Renton, our Vote Center is already open on weekdays from 8:30a.m. to 6:00p.m. Come on down!

Anyone who comes to a Vote Center in-person should plan on wearing a mask and following social distancing guidelines. All staff will be masked and gloved and we will have markers on the floor and staff on hand to help keep lines orderly and distanced.

To be eligible to register to vote, you must be a US citizen, a Washington State resident, and not currently incarcerated or under community custody following a felony conviction. To cast a ballot, you must be 18 years old by Election Day.

Help! I lost my ballot! What do I do?

If your ballot hasn’t arrived, or you can’t find it anywhere, don’t worry. You can print out a ballot. Click here to start. Follow the instructions. If you need a tutorial, watch this video and go step-by-step. Be sure to return your ballot to your nearest drop box or stick it in the mail just make sure it’s postmarked by Election Day, November 3. We recommend using a drop box over the mail as we get closer and closer to Election Day.

What’s on the ballot?

The ballot is a two-sided, 18-inch long document with a lot of ballot measures and races. To understand what each measure, advisory vote or candidate does or stands for, you can check out your Washington State Voter’s Pamphlet and the King County Elections’ Pamphlet. While we always recommend voting the entire ballot (these decisions affect our day-to-day lives!), it’s never required, and voters should feel comfortable leaving a race or measure blank.

Where can I drop off my ballot?

There are three ways:

1. At a ballot drop box: You can drop off your ballot drop box. We have 74 across the county and there’s one located within a 3-mile radius of 96% of our voters. Find your nearest drop box here.
2. By mail. If you’re going to send by mail, we recommend dropping your ballot in the mail by THIS Friday, the Friday before Election Day, to make sure it gets postmarked in time to be counted. Your ballot must be postmarked by Election Day.
3. At a Vote Center: If you need to register to vote or assistance with your ballot, come to one of our Vote Centers. Trained staff and specialized equipment are available to help voters with disabilities cast a private, independent ballot. While anyone can come to a Vote Center, we encourage voters who do not require assistance to return their ballots by drop box. There are no voting machines or booths so if you’re waiting for an in-person voting ‘experience’ that’s not what you’ll find at a Vote Center. You will be issued the same paper ballot that you were mailed at home and drop it in a secure bag or box at the Vote Center.

Are drop boxes safe?

Ballot drop boxes are a secure and convenient way for voters to return their ballot. Coming in at over 1,000 pounds (when empty!), drop boxes are constructed of half-inch thick steel, bolted to concrete with steel bolts and have multiple locking mechanisms, no pry points and are equipped with tamper-evident seals. Check out this video to see just how safe your ballot is in a drop box. Find your nearest drop box here.

How are ballots picked-up from drop boxes? How often?

We’re now picking up at least once a day at all boxes with more for our higher traffic locations. Drop boxes are emptied in teams of two trained King County Elections staff with a comprehensive set of security procedures. Check out this video to see our team in action.

Can I hand-out election materials near a drop box, mailbox or Vote Center?

By law, there can be no electioneering (actively campaigning or advocating for any candidate, ballot or measure) within 25-feet of a ballot drop box or within Vote Center. That means no campaign signs, no handing out literature, no stumping for your candidate wherever people are dropping off their ballots. If you see any electioneering happening near a drop box, please report it to us at 206-296-VOTE (8683) or tag us on social media @kcelections.

What’s the latest I can return my ballot?

The very latest is on Election Day, November 2 at 8 p.m. sharp. Not 8 p.m. and 30 seconds, not 8:02, and definitely not 8:15. But don’t wait that late! Check that off your list and vote before Election Day! Find your nearest drop box here.

I got two ballots. Why?

Don’t worry. It happens. Just fill out one ballot and return it to your nearest drop box, by mail or to your nearest Vote Center. We only count one ballot per person. Oh, and don’t forget your signature, it’s how we verify it’s your ballot and count your vote.

How can I track my ballot?

Track your ballot here. From the tracker, you can check your voter registration information, track your ballot and read about the contests—if any—on your ballot. Once you return your ballot, give it a couple of days to update. If you’re still not seeing anything, you can call 206-296-VOTE and we’ll help you track it down or resolve any issues. We’ll also mail, call and text any number we have on file to notify you if we need additional information. 

Where does my ballot go?

Your ballot goes to King County Elections’ Headquarters in Renton to be processed and counted. We have staff working every single day to sort your ballot, verify your signature (and therefore, your vote), separate ballot from envelope and tabulate every single vote.

You can watch our team in action anytime. We have eight webcams livestreaming 24/7 – though you’ll see the most action between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays. Watch live and learn about the process here.

Why was my signature challenged?

It happens. Our goal is always to count your ballot and make sure your voice is heard. Most of the time, we’re able to sort it out, but sometimes we may need you to update your signature by filling out a Signature Resolution Form we’ll send to you in that case.

If your signature is challenged, the good news is that there’s time to fix it. You’ll have till 4:30 p.m. on November 23 – the day before certification, to fill out the Signature Resolution Form. You can return the form by mail, or scan and email a clear picture of your form back to elections@kingcounty.gov.

To learn more about signature challenges, click here.

I voted. Where are the stickers?

While we’ll have “I voted!” stickers at each of our Vote Centers, those who return their ballot by mail or drop box can download digital stickers for their social media pages here. Make sure you tag us, @kcelections!

What resources are there to share with my friends, family and on social media?

First off, follow and tag us across social media: @kcelections. Then, check out these materials you can use on social or in your family group chat. Materials include fun, educational graphics, images and tips on how to vote. And, they come in multiple languages, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Korean and English.

Materials:

• Social media toolkit  
• Signs, posters, handouts
• Flickr images
• Videos:
  • How to Vote
  • Processing Your Vote
  • Certifying the Vote
  • Counting Your Vote
  • How Voting Works

When will we know the results?

Results will be posted beginning on November 2 after 8 p.m. We aim to have results up by 8:15 p.m. Results will be posted on our website here. From there, we will update on weekdays at around 4p.m.

To get the most meaningful results on Election Night, return your ballot before Election Day! That way we can have your vote processed, counted, and included in those Election Night results!

What security measures is King County Elections taking?

Washington State has been doing vote-by-mail for over-15-years. In King County, we’ve voted-by-mail for over a decade. We’re prepared and ready for whatever comes are way to make sure your ballot is safely returned and securely counted.

We’re working closely with federal, state and other county partners daily. We have layers of both physical and cyber security protections to ensure the integrity and accuracy of our election.

I have more questions. Where do I go?

If you have any concerns, give us a call at 206-296-VOTE (8683). We can help clarify any question or issue you have. Similarly, follow us on social media @kcelections to get the latest on election updates and tips.

Keeping our staff and voters safe and healthy is one of our top priorities for this upcoming election. Here are some questions we’ve encountered about how we’re handling the upcoming election in the midst of a pandemic.

How do I vote in a COVID-19 world?

The great news is that we already vote-by-mail in Washington State. If you are already registered to vote, your ballot will be mailed to you automatically about three weeks before Election Day. You can fill it out in the convenience of your home and then either drop it in the mail or return it to any of our more than 70 ballot drop boxes across the county.

Not yet registered? No problem. Up until eight days before Election Day you can register online or by mail. If it’s within eight days of Election Day, you do have to come in-person to a Vote Center to get registered. Vote Center locations will be offering both curbside and walk-up service to ensure that both our staff and voters stay staff.      

• What should I do if I need to register to vote?

If you aren’t yet registered to vote, don’t wait so you don’t have to come in-person! Up until eight days before Election Day you can register online or by mail. After the eight day deadline, you do have to come in-person to a Vote Center to get registered.

The deadline to register to vote online is October 26 for the November 3 General election.

• Can I vote in-person?

We will have Vote Center locations open for in-person voting with a variety of COVID-19 precautions. That said, we strongly recommend that voters take advantage of our vote-by-mail system and cast their ballot from the safety of their home. If you need a replacement ballot you have a variety of options:

• You can access your ballot online and print a replacement through our online ballot marking program,
  • If it’s more than a week out from Election Day you can request a replacement ballot be mailed to you,
  • Starting a week prior to Election Day you can pre-order a replacement ballot from a Vote Center and we’ll bring it out to your vehicle when you arrive.

Voters with a disability will be able to cast an independent, private ballot on our accessible voting units at any Vote Center. Units will be spaced for social distancing and staff will provide service in a way that keeps everyone safe.   

• Can I register and vote online?

If you have a Washington State ID you can register to vote or update your registration online up until eight days before Election Day. After the eight day deadline, you do have to come in-person to a Vote Center to get registered. If you do not have a Washington State ID, you can register to vote on a paper form and mail it to us. We must receive the paper form by the eight-day deadline, regardless of postmark date.

While you can’t cast your vote online, you can access your ballot and print off a replacement through our online ballot marking program. You will still need to return it either by mail or at one of our ballot drop box locations.

• How are you keeping your staff safe?

We are taking many precautions to ensure our staff and voters stay safe. Some of them include:

• Screening all staff and visitors for an elevated temperature as they come into the building and requiring that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms stay home.
  • Requiring all staff, voters and visitors to wear a mask or face covering. For any voter who is unable to wear a mask because of medical reason or disability, we will provide socially distanced service outside at a designated location.
  • Training all staff on proper hand washing and mask wearing protocol.
  • Frequently cleaning and disinfecting all common areas, including twice daily flushing of all circulated air in the building.
  • Relocating work groups and rearranging staff seating to ensure adequate social distancing.
  • Installing plexiglass and barriers between work and customer services stations.
  • Requiring that all ballot and mail processing staff wear gloves and training them on proper glove handling and requirements for how frequently gloves should be changed.
  • Limiting the number of people in-and-out of the building to only those who are essential to providing service to voters or processing ballots. 
• What kinds of changes have you made because of COVID-19?

King County Elections has adapted both our service models and our physical space to keep our staff, visitors and voters safe.

Changes to our facility include installing barriers and plexiglass between work and customer service stations, creating one directional aisles and hallways, upgrading our HVAC system to ensure better air recycling, and implementing temperature screens for all employees and visitors to the building.

We’ve also re-envisioned our service to focus primarily on curbside and outdoor walk-up service. For voters who need to come in-person, either to register or get a replacement ballot, we’ll also offer the option of “pre-ordering” your ballot or “pre-registering” to reduce the amount of time voters will spend on-site.

Once on-site voters will check-in with curbside staff who will get their information and direct them to parking location. The Elections team member will then process their registration and/or print their ballot and return to the voter’s vehicle with materials in hand. The voter is welcome to fill-out their ballot right then-and-there and drop it in the drop box or take it home to complete later.

• Can I take a tour or visit the ballot processing facility right now?

One of the most important ways we can keep our team safe is to minimize the number of people coming-in-and-out of the building, so, at present, we are not allowing public visitors or tours.  

The good news is there are lots of other ways you can stay connected with King County Elections. You can observe ballot processing live through our upgraded webcams. You can also keep up with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to get recent news, updates, and behind-the-scenes looks.

이제 선거일이 다가오면서, 마감일과 그에 관련된 업무에 관한 질문을 더 많이 받습니다, Kcelections.com에서 마감일을 찾아보실수 있지만, 요약된 설명이 있습니다.

9월 18일 – 군 복무 와 해외 유권자에게 투표용지 발송 귀하께서 우리 주안에 계시다면, 기다려 주십시오! 귀하의 투표용지는 10월에 발송됩니다.

9월 22일 – 전국 유권자 등록의 날! 마감일은 아니지만 주변 가족 친지가 유권자 등록을 했는지 그리고 등록 정보가 갱신되어 있는지 확인할 좋은 기회입니다. 물론, 귀하의 유권자 등록을 먼저 확인하십시오. VoteWa.gov로 가십시오. #NVRD

10월 6-13일 – 올해는 2개의 유권자 팸플랫을 받으실 것입니다 – 하나는 주에서 그리고 하나는 귀하의 카운티 (저희)로부터 받으십니다. 주 팸플랫은 거의 모든 경선이 포함되어 있고 이 날짜안에 도착할것입니다.

10월 13 – 17일 – 귀하의 지역 팸플랫과 투표용지와 며칠 상간으로 받으시고 그 안에는 지역 발의안과 사법부 후보가 포함되어 있습니다. 모든 팸플랫을 읽어 보십시오! 사법부 후보에 관하여 가장 적게 알고 있다는 얘기를 항상 듣습니다.

10월 14일 – 투표용지 발송은 저희에겐 큰 우편 발송입니다. 저희는 예비선거때 일반 우편으로 99.96% 유권자가 5일 이내에 투표용지를 받으신 것으로 알고 있습니다. 10월에도 비슷한 시간이 걸릴 것으로 예상하고 있습니다 – 파란 봉투를 눈여겨보십시오!

10월 15일 – 투표함 개방 모두 70곳 이상의 위치에서 점검, 개방, 그리고 봉인, 준비를 하고 귀하의 투표용지를 기다리고 있을 것입니다. 가까운 곳의 투표함을 여기에서 찾으십시오: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/how-to-vote/ballots/returning-my-ballot/ballot-drop-boxes.aspx

10월 20일 – 10월 19일까지는 투표용지를 받으셔야 합니다. 만약 그렇지 않으면, 20일에 저희에게 전화하시거나, 온라인 www.kingcounty.gov/elections/obmp으로 가시어 귀하의 투표용지를 인쇄하십시오.

10월 26일 – 온라인 유권자 등록 및 갱신 마지막 날 종이 서류 양식은 반드시 이날까지 서류가 저희 사무실에 도착해야 합니다 또는 온라인에서는 이날 자정까지 등록 또는 갱신을 하실수 있습니다. 만약 마감일을 놓치셨다면, 이번 선거를 위해서는 반드시 저희 사무실에 직접 방문하시어 등록 또는 주소 갱신을 하십시오. 지금 àVoteWA.gov에서 하십시오

11월 3일 – 선거일! 투표용지는 이날까지 소인이 찍히던지 또는 오후 8시 정각까지 투표함에 넣으셔야 합니다. 선거일 오후 8시까지 직접방문으로 등록하실 수 있습니다. 투표함 또는 투표센터에 오후 8시 정각까지 오시는 분은 누구나 투표하실 수 있습니다.

11월 23일 – 귀하의 투표용지에 문제가 있을 경우 서명 이의제기 서류 제출 마지막 날. 저희가 편지를 보내드리고, 저희에게 정보를 주신경우 전화/이메일로 연락드릴 것입니다. 가장 빠르게 반송하실 수 있는 방법은 이메일입니다 – 선명한 사진 또는 스캔을 하시는 것을 기억하십시오.

11월 24일 – 선거 인증일! 이것은 최종, 끝, 마무리를 의미합니다. 물론, 재계표를 하지 않는 한 그렇습니다.

보다 자세한 정보와 날짜는, kcelections.com 저희 블로그에서 확인하시고, 선거가 다가옴에 따라 다름 중요한 정보를 다시 확인하십시오.

從現在到選舉日之間的日子越來越短，我們收到越來越多有關什麽時候期待什麼以及何時是關鍵的截止日期的問題。您可以在kcelections.com找到詳細的摘要，而在這裡也有個縮短版本。

9月18日— 選票寄給服役和海外選民。如果您仍在美國，請稍候！您的選票將在十月到達。

9月22日— 全國選民登記日！這不是最後限期，而是打擾您親朋戚友的好日子，看看他們是否已登記或其登記是否更新。當然，請先確保您自己已登記。登記投票請前往 VoteWA.gov. #NVRD

10月6日至13日— 今年您將會收到兩份選民手冊—一份來自州務卿，另一份來自您的郡（就是我們！）。州手冊將介紹您選票上大多數的競選，並應在這些日期之間到達。

10月13日至17日— 您的地方手冊應在您收到選票後的幾天內到達，其將介紹地方選票議案和司法候選人。確定留住兩份手冊並詳細閲讀！我們總是聽到選民對司法候選人最不了解。 

10月14日— 選票寄出！這是我們的大郵件投遞。在初選時，我們看到美國郵政服務局（USPS）的派遞時間正常，99.96%的選民在5天內收到選票。我們預計在 10 月看到類似的派遞時間—留意那藍色信封！

10月15日— 投放箱開放！所有 70 多個地點都將接受檢查、打開及進行保安封密，準備好並等候著您的投票。請在此處找出最近您的投放箱∶ https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/how-to-vote/ballots/returning-my-ballot/ballot-drop-boxes.aspx

10月20日— 您應該在10月19 日星期一的郵件派遞收到您的選票。如果您沒收到，請在 10月20 日致電我們，或從家中上網登入並列印您的選票。網站：www.kingcounty.gov/elections/obmp

10月26日— 最後一天在網上登記或更新您的登記！紙張表格必須在這天到達我們的辦事處，或您必須在午夜之前在網上登記或更改資料。如果您錯過了截止日期，您必須親臨登記或更改地址以參加此次選舉。立即行動à VoteWA.gov

11月3日— 選舉日！選票必須蓋上這天或之前的郵戳，或在晚上8時正時前放進投放箱。您亦可在選舉日晚上8時前親臨登記！任何人在晚上8時正時在投放箱或投票中心排隊均能夠投下選票。

11月23日— 如果您的選票有問題，這是最後一天交回被質疑選票表格。我們會以書面通知，如您給我們提供了您的電話或電郵資料，我們也會用這些方式與您聯絡。最快交回資料的方式是通過電郵—只需確保是良好清晰的相片或素描即可。

11月24日— 選舉確證日！ 這意指選舉已終結、結束，完成。當然，除非要重新點票。

有關更多詳細資料及日期，可瀏覽我們的博客網誌：kcelections.com，並確保在選舉臨近時多加留意博客了解更多重要資料。

Trong khoảng thời gian từ bây giờ đến Ngày bầu cử, chúng tôi nhận được nhiều câu hỏi hơn về những gì sẽ xảy ra khi nào và những thời hạn quan trọng là gì. Quý vị có thể xem thông tin chi tiết tại kcelections.com nhưng đây là bản tóm tắt.

Ngày 18 tháng 9 – Lá phiếu được gửi qua đường bưu điện cho các cử tri trong quân đội và ở nước ngoài. Nếu quý vị vẫn ở Hoa Kỳ, xin vui lòng chờ! Quý vị sẽ nhận được lá phiếu vào tháng 10.

Ngày 22 tháng 9 – Ngày Đăng ký Cử tri Toàn quốc! Không phải là thời hạn cuối cùng nhưng đây là một dịp tuyệt vời để hỏi bạn bè và gia đình của quý vị về việc họ đã đăng ký chưa và hồ sơ đăng ký của họ có đã được cập nhật hay chưa. Tất nhiên hãy đảm bảo rằng quý vị đã đăng ký trước. Xin vui lòng truy cập vào VoteWA.gov. #NVRD

Ngày 6-13 tháng 10 – Quý vị sẽ nhận được 2 tập sách hướng dẫn cử tri vào năm nay – một tập sách từ tiểu bang và một tập sách từ quận của quý vị (từ chúng tôi!). Tập sách hướng dẫn cử tri của tiểu bang sẽ có PHẦN LỚN các tranh cử có trên lá phiếu của quý vị và sẽ được gửi đến trong những ngày này.

Ngày 13-17 tháng 10 – Tập sách hướng dẫn cử tri từ quận của quý vị sẽ được gửi đến trong vòng vài ngày sau khi quý vị nhận được lá phiếu và sẽ có các dự luật lá phiếu ở địa phương và các ứng cử viên tư pháp. Xin quý vị giữ cả hai tập sách này để tìm hiểu! Chúng tôi luôn nghe phản hồi rằng các ứng cử viên tư pháp là những người mà cử tri ít biết nhất.

Ngày 14 tháng 10 – LÁ PHIẾU ĐƯỢC GỬI ĐI QUA ĐƯỜNG BƯU ĐIỆN! Đây là lần gửi thư lớn của chúng tôi. Chúng tôi thấy thời gian đưa thư bình thường của USPS trong cuộc Bầu cử Sơ bộ với 99.96% cử tri nhận được lá phiếu trong vòng 5 ngày. Chúng tôi hy vọng sẽ thấy thời gian đưa thư tương tự vào tháng 10 – hãy chú ý đến phong bì màu xanh dương trong thùng thư của quý vị!

Ngày 15 tháng 10 – Thùng phiếu được mở! Tất cả hơn 70 thùng phiếu sẽ được kiểm tra, mở, và niêm phong an ninh, sẵn sàng nhận lá phiếu của quý vị. Tìm thùng phiếu gần với quý vị nhất tại đây: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/vietnamese/how-to-vote/ballots/returning-my-ballot/ballot-drop-boxes.aspx

Ngày 20 tháng 10 – Quý vị sẽ nhận được lá phiếu không trễ hơn lần giao thư vào Thứ Hai, ngày 19 tháng 10. Nếu quý vị không nhận được, xin vui lòng gọi cho chúng tôi vào ngày 20 tháng 10 hoặc vào trang web http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/obmp để truy cập và in lá phiếu của quý vị ngay tại nhà.

Ngày 26 tháng 10 – Ngày cuối cùng để đăng ký hoặc cập nhật hồ sơ đăng ký trực tuyến! Đơn đăng ký bằng giấy phải được văn phòng chúng tôi nhận vào ngày này hoặc quý vị có thể lên mạng để đăng ký hoặc thực hiện các thay đổi trong hồ sơ đăng ký cho đến 11:59 tối. Nếu quý vị bị lỡ thời hạn này, quý vị phải trực tiếp đến văn phòng để đăng ký hoặc thay đổi địa chỉ cho cuộc bầu cử này. Hãy thực hiện ngay bây giờ tại VoteWA.gov

Ngày 3 tháng 11 – NGÀY BẦU CỬ! Lá phiếu PHẢI được đóng dấu bưu điện không trễ hơn ngày này hoặc được bỏ vào thùng phiếu không trễ hơn 8:00 tối. Quý vị cũng có thể đăng ký trực tiếp cho đến 8:00 tối vào Ngày Bầu cử! Bất kỳ ai xếp hàng vào đúng 8:00 tối tại thùng phiếu hoặc Trung tâm Bầu cử sẽ có thể bỏ phiếu.

Ngày 23 tháng 11 – Ngày cuối cùng mà chúng tôi phải nhận được đơn dành cho lá phiếu chưa được chấp nhận nếu có vấn đề với lá phiếu của quý vị. Chúng tôi sẽ liên lạc với quý vị qua thư bưu điện, cũng như điện thoại/email nếu quý vị đã cung cấp thông tin đó cho chúng tôi. Cách nhanh nhất để gửi lại mẫu đơn đó là qua email – xin quý vị nhớ chụp hình hoặc scan mẫu đơn rõ ràng.

Ngày 24 tháng 11 – Ngày Chứng nhận cuộc Bầu cử! Điều đó có nghĩa là cuộc bầu cử đã có kết quả cuối cùng, đã kết thúc, đã xong. Tất nhiên là trừ khi có cuộc kiểm phiếu lại.

Để biết thêm chi tiết và những ngày quan trọng, xin vui lòng xem blog của chúng tôi tại kcelections.com và nhớ quay lại trang đó để kiểm tra để biết các thông tin quan trọng khác khi cuộc bầu cử sắp diễn ra.

Entre más se acerca el Día de la Elección, más preguntas recibimos relacionadas a la información sobre cuáles son las fechas limites claves. Usted puede encontrar la información detallada en kcelections.com pero aquí está un breve resumen.

18 de septiembre – Las boletas son enviadas por correo postal a electores en el extranjero y miembros del servicio federal. Si usted está aún en los Estados Unidos ¡prepárese! Que su boleta está por llegar en octubre.

22 de septiembre – ¡Día Nacional de Registro de Votantes! No es una fecha límite en verdad, pero es un gran día para preguntar insistentemente a su familia y amigos si ya se registraron o si sus registros están actualizados.

Del 6 al 13 de octubre – Este año recibirá dos folletos electorales – Uno es del estado y el otro es de su condado (es decir, ¡de nosotros!). En el folleto estatal figurarán la MAYORÍA de las contiendas presentes en su boleta y deberán llegar entre estos días.

Del 13 al 17 de octubre – Su folleto electoral local deberá llegar pocos días antes de su boleta y en ella figurarán medidas locales y candidatos judiciales. Asegúrese de tener ambos folletos a la mano y ¡léalos! Siempre escuchamos de que los electores conocen menos sobre los candidatos judiciales en comparación al resto de candidatos.

14 de octubre – ¡SE ENVIAN SUS BOLETAS! Este es un gran envío postal para nosotros. En la Elección Primaria vimos como los tiempos de entrega del Correo Postal USPS eran normalmente de entre 5 días para un 99.96 % de los electores. Tenemos la expectativa de ver similares tiempos de entrega en octubre – ¡esté pendiente de la llegada de ese sobre azul!

15 de octubre – ¡Se abren las urnas electorales! – Todas las +70 locaciones serán inspeccionadas, abiertas y selladas con seguridad; estarán listas y esperando por su boleta. Encuentre hoy la urna electoral más cercana en https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/spanish/how-to-vote/ballots/returning-my-ballot/ballot-drop-boxes.aspx

20 de octubre – Usted deberá recibir su boleta por el lunes 19 de octubre. Si no ha llegado hasta esa fecha, comuníquese con nosotros a partir del 20 de octubre o puede ir en línea para acceder e imprimir su boleta desde su hogar. www.kingcounty.gov/elections/spanish

26 de octubre – ¡Es el último día para registrarse o actualizar sus datos en línea! Este día los formularios impresos deben llegar a nuestra oficina antes de que cierre o hasta la media noche si decide hacerlo en línea. Si se le pasó de la fecha límite, tendrá que venir en persona para registrarse o cambiar su dirección para esta elección. Hágalo ahora à VoteWA.gov

3 de noviembre – ¡Día de la Elección! Las boletas deben estar mataselladas a más tardar con esta fecha o depositadas en una urna electoral antes de las 8 p.m. en punto. ¡También se podrá registrar en persona hasta las 8 p.m. en el Día de la Elección! Cualquier persona que se encuentre haciendo fila a las 8 p.m. en punto en una urna electoral o en un Centro de Votación podrá emitir su boleta.

23 de noviembre – Es el último día para devolver el formulario de una recusación de boleta en caso de que haya existido algún problema con su boleta. Nos pondremos en contacto con usted a través de una carta, también con una llamada telefónica o correo electrónico siempre y cuando usted nos haya dado esa información. La manera más rápida de responder es por correo electrónico elections@kingcounty.gov – pero asegúrese de tomar una foto clara o escaneo nítido.

24 de noviembre – ¡Día de la Certificación! Esto significa que ya se acabó, es el final, no hay más nada que hacer. Al menos de que haya un recuento, por supuesto.

Para más detalles y más fechas, puede visitar nuestro blog al http://www.kcelections.com y asegúrese de volver a visitarnos cuando la elección se aproxime para obtener otra importante información.

As the countdown clocks continue to tick down the days between now and November 3^rd, we’re getting lots of questions about what to expect when and how to make sure you hit all the important deadlines to make sure your vote counts. Here are some key dates to put in your calendar to make sure that you’re ready to vote!

September 18 – King County mails out ballots to our service and overseas voters on this day, beating that 45-day requirement set out in federal law. Sending ballots early to those overseas helps to ensure that they receive their ballot with ample time to vote and get it back to us. If you’re not a service or overseas voter, hold tight. Your ballot is coming in October!

September 22 – National Voter Registration Day! This is not a deadline but it is a handy day to know about. You’ll likely see lots of chatter on social media this day about registering to vote and updating your registration. No need to wait, though – check that your registration is current today or take the plunge and get registered if you’re not already. Encourage your friends and family to get registered and check that their registration is up to date too!

October 6-13 – Did you know that you’ll get TWO voters’ pamphlets for this election? That’s right. You’ll get one from the Secretary of State’s Office that features most of the candidates and measures you’ll be voting on. Keep an eye out for the state pamphlet during this timeframe.

October 13-16 – Your local voters’ pamphlet should arrive in this timeframe. The local pamphlet will feature any local ballot measures for you to consider, as well as judicial races specific to King County. Hang onto it and read up! We often hear from voters that judicial candidates are the ones they feel least informed on.

October 14 – Ballots MAILED! For the vast majority of voters, this is the day we’re sticking your ballot out in the mail. Some voters will start to see them in their mailboxes as early as the 15^th or 16^th and we expect all voters to have their ballots in hand by Monday, October 19^th’s mail delivery. We saw normal delivery times in the Primary from USPS with 99.96% of voters having received their ballot within five days of being sent. We expect to see those same delivery times in the General so keep an eye on your mailbox!

October 15 – Drop boxes open! All 70+ drop boxes across King County will be inspected, opened, and security sealed on this day, ready and waiting for your ballot. Don’t leave them lonely for too long. Get that ballot in early!

October 20 – Definitely put this one in your calendar or set an alert. If you do not have your ballot by Tuesday, October 20^th, give us a call or go online to access and print your ballot at home. Don’t wait until Election Day to go wonder where your ballot is. If you think you should have gotten one, let us know on the 20^th.

October 26 – This is the online voter registration deadline and the final day we can accept mailed paper registration forms. After this day, you’ll have to come see us in person to get registered or make an address update. Don’t end up waiting in line because you waited until the last minute.  Make sure your registration is up to date today at VoteWA.gov.

October 31 – Most Vote Center locations will be open on Saturday, October 31, Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3. While we’ll be open at Election Headquarters in Renton for the entire voting period, the Vote Centers around the county may be a more convenient option for you. We’re still finalizing a few locations but we already know that we’ll be at CenturyLink Field Event Center in Seattle and have locations in Kent, Bellevue, and more! These Vote Centers are available for those who need assistance or to use an assistive device, those who need to register in person, or choose to pick up a replacement ballot rather than printing one at home. Visiting on Saturday, October 31 is your best bet to not having to wait in a long line and beating that Election Day rush.

November 3 – ELECTION DAY! This is it. This is the day we’ve all been waiting for. We hop you all know this by now but your ballot MUST be postmarked by November 3 or in one of our drop boxes by 8 p.m. sharp. We cannot stress the ‘sharp’ piece too much. When the clocks strike 8 p.m. on the dot, the drop boxes close. That means that even if it’s 45 seconds after 8 p.m., it’s too late. If it’s two minutes past 8 p.m., it’s too late. If it’s 15 minutes past 8 p.m., again – too late. No amount of arguing can make your ballot magically be on time so just don’t wait. Get it done early.

For most, Election Day means that your part is done. You voted. You tracked your ballot and made sure it counted. You’re set. However, there are still a couple of dates to be mindful of even after Election Day.

November 12 & 18 – We’ll hold our post-Election Day Canvassing Board meetings on these days. The Canvassing Board is made up of the Director of Elections and representatives from both the King County Council and King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. We won’t lie, unless you’re an election nerd it may not be that exciting to watch but the Board can deal with some interesting decisions around how to record a vote when it falls outside of the usual voter intent guidelines. We’ll be livestreaming from our Facebook page so tune in at 1:30 p.m. (both days) there.

November 23 – This is a big one! If an issue with your signature arises, like you forgot to sign or your signature didn’t match closely enough with what’s on file, this is the last day that you can submit the form needed to count your vote.

Anyone who has their ballot challenged will receive a letter from us and, if we have it, we’ll give you a call and send an email as well. Be sure to add that information where it asks for it on your return envelope so we can reach you faster in case of an issue. You can also track your ballot online and the tracker will show you if we’ve had to issue a challenge for any reason and tell you how to fix it.

We must receive the appropriate form by 4:30 pm on November 23^rd to count your ballot. The fastest way to get it back to us is to take a clear photo or scan and email it to voter.services@kingcounty.gov. You can also return it by fax, mail, or in person if you need to!

November 24 – Certification Day! Certification means that the election is final. There’s no more counting votes, no more tabulating of results. It’s done (unless there’s a recount). The Canvassing Board will meet at 3 p.m. to officially certify the results and you can watch it live from our Facebook page.

At any time throughout the year, you can find important election dates on our website. Check it out and bookmark it so you know what you need to do by when.

Over the last year, voters in King County have surpassed our expectations time and time again when it comes to turnout.

In the August Primary, we projected 43% — you all showed up at 56%. The turnout for the 2016 August Primary was 37%. In the March Presidential Primary, we projected 40% — you all showed up at 56%. The turnout for the 2016 Presidential Primary was 33%. Needless to say, King County voters have been showing up and making their voices heard.

Now, as we turn our attention to the Presidential election this fall, we’ve got a challenge for you – Can we hit 90? 90% turnout means almost 1.3 million ballots returned this fall. That is a lot of votes to count. But never fear – we’ve got this.

We have been hard at work planning for this election. From adding drop boxes to increasing our online tools and resources to building new partnerships with organizations like the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders, we’ve been planning to hear from more of you than ever before.

But we need your help to hit 90 and many of you have asked what you can do to help this election run smoothly. Here are some concrete steps you can take today to make sure that your vote counts and help King County hit 90:

– Make sure you’re registered and that your registration is up to date. If you’ve moved or changed your name recently, your registration likely needs to be updated. You can go online to VoteWA.gov today to get this done. The last day to make changes online is October 26 (a full 12 days AFTER ballots are initially mailed) but there is no reason to wait. Get it done today.

– Make a plan to vote EARLY. It sounds simple, right? You get your ballot, you fill it out, you return it to us, done. But SO MANY PEOPLE wait until Election Day to cast their ballot and too often we have voters pulling up to drop boxes at 8:02 pm, 8:05 pm, 8:15 pm because they hit a red light or got stuck at work or just didn’t think about it until it was too late. Don’t let that be you.

Are you going to return it by mail? You don’t need a stamp, we’ve got postage covered. It’s also first-class so those shorter delivery windows are guaranteed. Just get it in the mail as soon as possible. It never hurts to walk it into a post office if you’re unsure of mail pick up times in your area.

Or are you going to return it by drop box? There are currently 70 and soon we’ll be adding a few more. (Don’t worry, we’ll tell you where when it’s all final!) There’s a drop box within a 3-mile radius of 96% of registered voters in King County so chances are good that there’s one near you. Again, don’t wait. Drop boxes close at 8 pm sharp on Election Night (not 8 pm + 1 second, when the clock strikes 8, we close ‘em up). Drop boxes can get busier and busier as Election Day approaches. Don’t wait in line, drop it on anytime during the TWO WEEKS you’ll have your ballot.

– Updating your signature never hurts. Your signature is how we know that you’re you and each and every signature is compared to what we have on file. Pro-tip: Take a peak at your drivers’ license if you have a WA State ID. We pull signatures from DOL when you update or register online. If that signature doesn’t reflect your current signature, simply fill out a new paper registration form and send it back to us. Again, we must have it in hand by October 26^th but there’s no reason to wait.

– Plan to track your ballot. We provide an online ballot tracker so you can see where your ballot is at in the process or if there was an issue with your signature. A missing signature or one that doesn’t match what we have on file means that your ballot won’t be counted. While there is time to fix this after Election Day, it’s best (again) to get it done early and rest easy on Election Day knowing that your ballot was counted. You can find the ballot tracker in our My Voter Information tool and it will show you there if your ballot has been counted or if there’s a signature issue. To fix a signature issue, you fill out a simple form and can return it by email, mail, fax, or in person.

– Be THAT friend. You know the one we’re talking about, right? That one who won’t stop talking about voting. The one who bugs their friends and family constantly to make sure they’re registered, that they have a plan to vote. Most of us here at Elections are THAT friend.

We can only reach 90% turnout if everyone has the information they need to cast their vote and we need your help in spreading good, accurate information, particularly when there’s so much misinformation out there. So, follow us on social media (we’re on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @kcelections) and share the information you find there. Check in with your network to make sure they have what they need. Bug them incessantly to get their ballot in early. Every conversation helps to make sure every vote counts.

– If you have a question, ask. We are here to help. We know it can be confusing sometimes. We know that elections are different from state to state and that it’s hard to find accurate, current information out there. We know that there’s a lot of claims being made about voting and a lot of people claim to be experts. But if you aren’t sure about something or you need help, please ask us. We’re here for you. We want you to vote and we want your vote to count. You can reach us at 206-296-VOTE (8683) or shoot us an email at elections@kingcounty.gov. We will help you figure it out and do everything we can (within the law, of course) to make voting as accessible to you as possible.

Check back here over the coming months for more detailed information as we get closer to the election. We’ll be sharing voting tips, common mistakes to avoid, explainers on how to do things like access your ballot online, and more! There’s even a #hit90 toolkit with suggested social media posts and graphics you can download and use to spread the word. Let’s get to work, King County, so we can #hit90 this November.

• What is the King Conservation District?

The King Conservation District (KCD) is a natural resources assistance agency that promotes the sustainable use of natural resources through responsible stewardship. KCD’s service area includes 34 cities and all of unincorporated King County. Excluded are the cities of Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific and Skykomish.

For residents in the KCD service area, the organization provides education, training and technical assistance on issues such as water quality protection, wildlife habitat enhancement, farm conservation plans, soil and slope stability information, native plant products, manure match information, volunteer opportunities, and stream restoration.

• What is the King Conservation District Election?

First, it’s important to note that this is a unique election. Unlike most special purpose districts, the King Conservation District is authorized to run their own elections. KCD is not governed under the same election laws as most other jurisdictions and has a great deal of flexibility in how they conduct their elections.For the election currently underway they have contracted with King County Elections to assist with ballot processing.

KCD has chosen to utilize mobile voting technology this year in an attempt to increase participation. In prior years, voters have had to request KCD to mail them a ballot, vote, and then return it. This technology is meant to make ballot access easier.  

A five-member Board of Supervisors is responsible for overseeing all KCD programs and activities. Three members are elected by voters and two are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. There is currently an election underway for one position on the Board of Supervisors for a six year term.  Election Day is February 11 and ballots are available now on the KCD website. 

• Is the King Conservation District Election secure?

Yes. The King Conservation District made the decision to contract with a well-respected vendor, DemocracyLive, to provide this secure online ballot access and return portal. King County Elections works with DemocracyLive to provide military and overseas voters electronic access to their ballots and have never had a security breach or issue with that system. The system has been extensively tested by local and national IT security experts.

There’s no special app, there’s no electronic storage of votes. Instead a voter’s choice is recorded onto a PDF, which they then verify before submission. That PDF submission arrives to our offices electronically and is printed to go through the same ballot processing procedures that we use for our mail-in ballots here in Washington State, including signature verification.

• Are all King County elections going to use mobile voting technology?

No. We believe strongly in the vote-by-mail system that we currently use. This is not a pilot program of King County Elections nor is it a system that we plan to utilize in the future.

• Can I vote in the King Conversation District Election?

If you live in King County and not in the cities of Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific and Skykomish, then YES, you can vote in the KCD election. If you are already registered to vote, you don’t need to do anything else – just go online to access your ballot.

Information about the candidates running for the KCD Board of Supervisors position can be found on the King Conversation District website as well as on the online platform through which you can also access your ballot. 

• How can I return my ballot?

There are three ways to return your ballot:

• Voters may submit their ballot electronically through the same platform they used to access it. 
• Voters may print and mail their ballot to King County, Elections, 919 SW Grady Way, Suite 200, Renton, WA 98057.
• Votes may print and return their ballot to a King County Elections ballot drop box. Locations can be found on here.

Voters can also go in-person to the King Conservation District’s Office, 800 SW 39th St., Suite 150, Renton, WA 98057 from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, February 11.

In every election – special, primary, or general – approximately 2% of King County voters receive a second ballot. That second ballot is typically triggered by an update in one’s voter registration record – through King County Elections or the Department of Licensing – such as an address change, name change, or even just updating their phone number. Updates made after the ballots have gone to print are more likely to trigger this duplication and with same-day registration and the deadline for updates made online moved back, it is likely that more voters will be issued second ballots.

We always hear concern from voters – what happens if I get two ballots? Am I in trouble? Will both be counted?

The short answer is no – you are not in trouble and your two ballots will not be counted, just the first one returned.

For every registered voter, they have a voter record and only one ballot can be counted for that record. It is extremely rare that a voter tries to return two ballots. Every ballot includes the declaration that the voter is not attempting to vote twice and that an attempt to vote twice could result in prosecution and is punishable with up to 5 years in jail, up to a $10,000 fine, or both. What we see here in King County is that our voters are overwhelmingly honest, well-intentioned people who want to follow the rules and want to make sure their vote gets counted.

While our staff and the voter registration database stop many more second ballots from going out the door, inevitably a few make it through. This is true in every county. As the county with nearly one-third of the entire state’s registered voters and the center of the state’s media market, second ballots certainly draw more attention here in King County. 

We have several layers of checks and balances in our ballot processing system to catch any second ballots that come to ensure that one person, one vote is upheld – no matter how many ballots a voter tries to return.