2018 General Election

 Its the 2018 General Election

     I can hear the thud of ballots dropping as I type furiously to get the blog done. I know I promised to have it available before you got your ballots. Then I was informed that the October 19 date was not the deadline for mailing but the deadline for receiving. I started getting calls yesterday. I presume that many of you have received your ballots today. Good thing we’re live and ready.

First, you need to know that you are registered to vote. To check, go to
https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVote/#/login  
The deadline for registering on line or for changing name or address has passed. If you miss that deadline you will have to go to the

Elections Office at
400 N Main Street in Coupeville.
The deadline to register or change your name or address in person is October 29, 2018.

For more information call 360-679-7366 or email  elections@co.island.wa.us
They’re open 8:00 – 4:30  Monday - Friday

The Elections Office tells us that ballots must be postmarked
on or before election day, November 6.
The League of Women Voters has just let us all know that the Postal Service is being less than helpful. Ballots dropped in mailboxes in Island County get shipped to Seattle for processing, and are usually postmarked the next day. Which means your ballot would be postmarked too late. So if you drop your ballot in the mail on November 6 it may very well not be counted. NOT GOOD!

There are several solutions.
1. Get your ballot in the mail by Monday, November 5.
2. If you can’t do it before November 6, take it to the counter and ask the postal clerk to hand stamp it. And no, you don’t need to put a stamp on it.
3. Drop it in one of the 6 ballot drop boxes before 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 6. They are located at:
   
    Island County Elections Office
    400 N Main Street    Coupeville

    Trinity Lutheran Church
    18341 Hwy 525    Freeland

    Ken’s Corner Shopping Center
    4141 Hwy 525 (at Langley Road)    Clinton

    Island County Camano Annex
    121 N East Camano Drive    Camano Island

    Langley Post Office, front patio
    115  2nd Street        Langley

    Oak Harbor City Hall
    865 SE Barrington    Oak Harbor

If you haven’t received a ballot by October 22, contact the Elections office.

And here is Marianne’s regular disclaimer: I would never presume to tell you how to vote. That is very much your business. I’m merely telling you how I intend to vote and why. You can make your own decisions from there.

I’m beginning to learn about this blogging business, so that now I no longer have vagrant italics or underlines, and this time I’ve even figure out how to make sure all the web links are live and functional. Next thing you know I’ll learn how to add images (don’t hold your breath).

Whatever you do, VOTE. And encourage, hassle, bug, and convince everyone you know to vote as well. Feel free to forward information about the blog to all and sundry. Your vote has never been more important. The planet and government you save may be your own.