August 7, 2018 Primary crib sheet

Welcome to the Primary marathon. Note that your ballot is particularly long this time. Because of the open primary system in Washington, there are no fewer than 29 candidates for Maria Cantwell’s Senate seat. Luckily there are not quite so many for most of the other positions. In fact, I am appalled that a number of important county offices have no challenger to the incumbent at all. I will list those positions, but see no point in going into great detail. For the most part, unless they have done really wonderful things, I do not vote for unchallenged candidates.

Here’s the basic information:

Ballots must be returned no later than August 7.

            You can mail your ballot as long as the postmark is on or before August 7. To be sure that happens, get your ballot in the mail before 4:00 pm. Remember, it needs a stamp if you mail it.

            There are also drop boxes for depositing ballots without need of a stamp. There are now 6 of those, in the following locations:

            Island County Elections Office            400 N Main Street                    Coupeville

            Oak Harbor City Hall                           865 SE Barrington                   Oak Harbor

            Trinity Lutheran Church                      18341 Hwy 525                                   Freeland

            Langley Post Office                             115  2^nd Street                           Langley

            Ken’s Corner Red Apple                      4141 Hwy 525                         Clinton

            Camano Annex                                                121 N East Camano Dr            Camano

Deadline for dropping in the collection box is 8:00 pm on August 7.

There have been some unusual and worrisome communications coming out of the elections office this year, so make sure you are registered. If you have not received your ballot by July 21/22, contact the elections office. Like jurisdictions elsewhere, Island County sent out notices to some people that they were being removed from the voter rolls, but the notices looked so much like junk mail that many may have been tossed out. If you’re not sure, you can check on line at https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/myvote/#/login

or with the Island County elections office at elections@co.island.wa.us or phone 360-679-7366 M-F 9:00 – 4:00.

Marianne’s usual disclaimer. I’m not telling you how to vote. I’m just telling you how I would/will vote and why. You, obviously, will decide for yourself. Please, I have spent a lot of time and energy researching all of this, so do NOT yield to the temptation just to find the name in red at the bottom of each race. Its really important to me that your votes be informed.

After a vigorous initiative campaign season, you will note that there are no initiatives on the primary ballot. The deadline for submitting signatures to the Secretary of State was July 6. That office is still counting and tabulating and deciding, and those initiatives with enough signatures will be on the November general election ballot.

Two further points: Blogger and I are having a disagreement about posting. Some of the contents are underlined where I didn't want it and some are italicized where I didn't want it. Since I'm getting phone calls, emails, and people stopping me on the street, I'm posting with all the bloops just to get it out there in a timely fashion.

Second point. I apologize to the Camano folks for not researching the numerous candidates for Snohomish PUD seats. I don't feel like I know enough about those issues, and am feeling very pushed for time. I hope someone with the PUD boundaries has done this homework. Again, sorry it wasn't me.

Ok, now to the ballot.