By james art 
We elect the next governor, a new one Judge of the Supreme Court and most of the legislature and making some big tax decisions that will affect the state budget as well as the environment and your personal budget.
It’s a big vote, with a number of contests and issues you may not feel ready to have an opinion on. And here’s four pieces of good news to get you ready to pick up your pen and vote:
- Cascade PBS is full of information to guide you, but we won’t tell you how to vote. Check out ours statewide voter guide and all stories we posted about the various competitions in the newsletter.
- You can choose which items to vote for; you do not need to complete the entire ballot.
- If you can’t find your ballot or aren’t registered to vote, it’s not too late. Washington has same-day voter registration. You just have to show up in person at a county voting center.
- Your ballot envelope may include an “I Voted” sticker, or you may be able to pick one up when you drop off your ballot or appear in person. Wear it with pride. Voting is cool.
In addition to electing a brand new governor, Washington voters are also electing a new attorney general and insurance and land commissioners. Two congressional seats are wide open – on the shore and around Spokane – and at least three other congressional districts have competitive races in this primary. Voters also elect every Washington House seat and about half of the state Senate. Also, Seattle voters are like that election of a member of the municipal council to serve a one-year term.
Shortly after 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night, county election officials will share what they’ve counted from the ballots received so far. But some races won’t be decided for a few days.
Cascade PBS is after all these races and will post the first set of results as soon as possible after 8pm, as well as posting breaking news on some of the biggest races. County officials will continue to count ballots in the coming days and weeks.
How to vote
It’s not too late to get your ballot in circle drop down boxbut election officials recommend against using post office boxes on Election Day because there is no guarantee that those ballots will be marked in time.
Even if you don’t have a ballot in hand, you’ll need to get to a district election office or voting center to register and vote in person.
If you are already registered and have just lost your ballot or your dog has eaten it, you can visit this same polling office in person to get a replacement ballot, or you may be able to print one online. Yours district election office will explain more on their online portal.
Office of the Secretary of State answers other voting questions on its website. And on A guide for Cascade PBS voters nationwide there are also handy questions and answers. The Voter’s Guide is a good source of information if you are still filling out your ballot. In addition to information on nearly every candidate and statewide bulletins, the guide also includes links to stories about the races.
Some useful links
Civil servants
Governor: Ferguson, Reichert heat up Spokane gubernatorial debate scene
Summary: 5 key takeaways from the Washington gubernatorial debate
Prosecutor General: 7 takeaways from the attorney general’s debate in Washington
What is an attorney general? They are more lawyers than generals
Commissioner of Public Lands: 5 takeaways from the WA Public Lands Commissioner debate
The WA Public Lands Commissioners race is attracting an unusually crowded field
OSPI: 5 takeaways from the public instruction debate chief
Hotly contested race for Washington public schools superintendent
Secretary of State: Campaign cybersecurity is top of mind in Washington’s race for secretary of state
Commissioner of Insurance: What does the WA Insurance Commissioner do?
Supreme Court: Four candidates are vying to fill an open seat on the Supreme Court
Statewide ballot initiatives
Carbon Tax I-2117: Will the 2117 Carbon Tax Initiative Lower Gas Prices? This is debatable
The WA ballot initiative would cut $848.6 million from environmental programs
I-2109 Capital Gains: Capital gains tax repeal could cost Washington public schools billions
Washington ballot initiatives lose ground among voters in new poll
WA Cares I-2124 Program: Initiative 2124 would make the tax on the WA Cares insurance program optional
Natural Gas I-2066: Does Washington need a ban to prevent natural gas bans?
Congress
3rd district: Gluesenkamp Perez faces MAGA rematch for US House in rural Washington
4th district: 4th Congressional Candidate Says Muslims Should Not Serve
The Democrat is launching a write-in campaign in the 4th Congressional District
In Central Washington, the race for the 4th District is heating up in a conservative battle
5th district: Spokane-area 5th District race opens with McMorris Rogers walkout
6th district: A competitive field for an open seat in the US House of Representatives in Washington’s 6th district
Senate: Garcia is challenging veteran incumbent Cantwell for the U.S. Senate
Seattle
Municipal Council: Takeaways from the Seattle City Council Position 8 debate
How Seattle City Council Candidates Differ on Crime, Taxes, Homelessness
Transportation Fee in Seattle: The case for and against Seattle’s biggest transportation tax
Seattle City Council sends $1.55 billion transportation tax to vote