Slog News & Arts

Line Out

Music & Nightlife

« A Film That I Was Unable to Fi... | The Miracle of Flight »

Friday, October 17, 2008

Early Voting In Washington

posted by on October 17 at 15:34 PM

Posted by News Intern Aaron Pickus

Yes, Washington is full of mail-in balloters, but physical polling sites are not a thing of the past. Not only that, but we also have early voting here in King County! (Who knew?)

Those wishing to vote early in the upcoming election can do so as of this past Wednesday. An entire room has been set aside at the King County Elections office in Renton for citizens who just cannot wait to have their (at least) 18-year-old voices heard. The early voting site is available to residents who are currently registered to vote in Washington State (including those already registered as absentee voters) or anyone who shows up to switch their registered state to Washington. King County Elections Media Coordinator Bobbie Egan encourages all those not already registered to vote, in Washington or otherwise, and those who are just plain impatient to come by the King County Elections office in Renton. The regular office hours are weekdays 8:30am - 4:30pm with extended hours this Saturday from 9:30am - 3:00pm. This Monday, the very very very last day that eligible citizens may register to vote, office hours will be extended from 8:30am - 6:00pm. Egan says that the majority of those voting early are people who came in to register and just couldn’t wait to vote. Over 100 citizens have cast their ballots at the early voting site since it opened two days ago. See how exciting and intoxicating it is to participate in our democracy?

This totally free democratic elixir has already been made available in several states. Ben Smith, from Politico.com, reports on early voting starting yesterday in North Carolina. It is possible that a third of the electorate, predicts Paul Gronke of the Early Voting Information Center, may vote early this election cycle.

RSS icon Comments

1

Fuckin sweet. I can stop on the way home and I'll be able to vote before my absentee wife.

Posted by Mike in Renton | October 17, 2008 3:54 PM
2

I kind of want to do this so I can tape the ballot stub around my wrist, drink heavily until I pass out, and wake up sometime on Nov. 5-6th.

Posted by Greg | October 17, 2008 4:10 PM
3

I strongly encourage Greg's suggestion. I only wish to add the advice that one should set aside a fifth of bourbon just in case, upon waking, one finds themselves in Palin's America.

Posted by Aaron Pickus | October 17, 2008 4:15 PM
4

Just dropped my ballot in the mail! Another vote for Obama/Biden, Gregoire, and Prop 1 Real Transit!

Posted by DC | October 17, 2008 4:20 PM
5

I hope they're not Diebold voting machines. Then it would be a McCain only voting location.

Posted by jarbot | October 17, 2008 4:24 PM
6

with "regular office hours" being "weekdays 8:30am - 4:30pm," "Saturday from 9:30am - 3:00pm" are not extended hours

just saying.

Posted by luna.sea | October 17, 2008 4:31 PM
7

Renton?

FUCK RENTON. The biggest city (and duh, transit hub) in the county should have a place to vote.

Posted by StC | October 17, 2008 5:09 PM
8

Already voted. Dropped it off before work at the U Dist location.

WOOHOO!

Now to go out and buy guns and ammo, just in case.

Posted by Will in Seattle | October 17, 2008 5:34 PM
9

I would really like to take advantage of this - but if I don't vote at my precinct, don't I have to fill out a provisional ballot? And doesn't that increase the likelihood, just a little, that my ballot may be challenged and possibly not counted?

Just checking.

Posted by paranoid | October 17, 2008 5:38 PM
10

The husband's absentee ballot came yesterday. Mine hasn't arrived. For 10 years, they have arrived together. Voter fraud!!! OK, maybe I should give it a few more days...man, I am tense...need to go breathe into a paper bag now.

Posted by threnody | October 17, 2008 5:45 PM
11

as much as i would like to vote like right this instant.. i'm gonna wait until november 4th and shuffle to my precinct with the the
theme from roots playing in my head. and then when i deposit my vote and the music swells i will fall on the floor sobbing and singing that old civil rights hymn 'ain't gonna let nobody turn me around' ..
and then i'm gonna take a bus ( and sit right up in the front, thank you very much..) to vancouver bc where i'm gonna hole up in a hotel for two days and get drunker than captain willard.

Posted by reverend dr dj riz | October 17, 2008 6:32 PM
12

Luna.sea, the extended hours refer to the fact that they are open this Saturday, a day on which they are normally closed.

Posted by Aaron Pickus | October 17, 2008 7:54 PM
13

Oooh, yuck. It turns out that the early voting is done with touch screens.

@5 may be right.

Posted by Mike in Renton | October 18, 2008 9:39 AM
14

re:@5
Expect it to look something like this: http://www.wvgazette.com/News/200810170676

Posted by skeptic | October 18, 2008 10:46 AM
15


Since you mentioned early voting in NC, this link might be useful.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/ballot/straightticket.asp

It seems voting a "straight" ticket will not register as a vote for president. (NM has a similar problem but voting straight AND filling in the President choice creates an over vote invalidating the ballot)

WA does not have a straight ticket option if I remember correctly.

Perhaps the stranger should send and unpaid intern to Renton to verify that touch screens are the only option for EV.

Posted by Ken | October 22, 2008 6:47 AM

Comments Closed

Comments are closed on this post.