Voting and politics may not rank high in terms of your interest, particularly during summer, but please take a moment to register to vote if you haven’t already. If you’re registered, then watch for your primary ballot when it’s mailed July 16.
County Elections Manager Garth Fell notes that this is an odd-year election, which usually means lower voter turnout. But one race in particular could help boost voter participation in the county for the Aug. 4 primary, a five-candidate race for the county executive seat. County Executive John Lovick, a Democrat, is facing fellow Democrat and County Council member Dave Somers and Republicans Robert Sutherland, James Deal and Norm Nunnally. The two candidates receiving the most votes, regardless of party, will move on to the Nov. 3 general election.
In county Auditor Carolyn Weikel’s annual report for 2014, which was released earlier this month, Weikel noted that overall voter registration in the county increased to 416,389 for last year’s election, but turnout for the non-presidential general election was just over 51 percent.
Fell said he expects turnout for the primary to be around 26 percent, “but we’d love to get more people out.”
To vote in the Aug. 4 primary election, prospective voters have until July 6 to register online or by mail, or until July 27 to register at the county elections office. To vote in the Nov. 3 general election, online and mail registrations are due by Oct. 5 or in person by Oct. 26. These dates also apply to updating your address if you have moved.
You can register to vote online if you have a state driver’s license of state ID card, by mailing in a voter registration card or by registering in person at the county elections office at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett. For more information, go to www. snohomishcountywa.gov/1967/Voter-Registration.
As it has in the past, The Herald Editorial Board will be interviewing candidates for public office as we consider endorsements. Candidates have the opportunity to tell us why they are running, what they believe their qualifications for office are and explain their opinions and ideas regarding the various issues and challenges they will likely face if elected. We base our endorsements of individual candidates as much on their qualifications, skills and ability to represent constituents well as we do on particular stances on issues.
This also is a good time to remind our readers about our policy regarding letters to the editor in support of particular candidates. We encourage such letters, but ask that you keep them brief and to the point. Shorter letters have a better chance of appearing in print. A week before each election we will suspend publication of letters endorsing particular candidates.
We are fortunate so many of our fellow citizens are willing to take on the often thankless tasks of public office. The least we can do is to take part in selecting those we see as the best fit for office. This election year offers many opportunities to select the best leaders for city and county government. Please register to vote. And please fill out and mail or drop off your ballot.
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