King County PrimaryBallots are out

[eridani]

Ron Sims
King County Executive

Department of Executive Services
King County Elections

News Release
Date: Jan. 30, 2008Contact: Megan Coppersmith, 206-296-2796


King County's presidential primary ballots in the mail

More than 630,000 ballots featuring the 16 presidential candidates and several important local ballot measures were mailed today to absentee voters. Ballot packets for the presidential primary include special rules and instructions that apply only to this presidential primary.

Voters signed up to receive a mail ballot should receive their ballot at their registered mailing address by Friday, Feb. 8. For more information on voting by mail or to receive your ballot by mail, call 206-296-VOTE (8683) or visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/vote.aspx.

Held every four years, the presidential primary differs from the typical August primary. Like the August pick-a-party primary, voters must pick a party and vote for candidates of that party. In the presidential primary, voters are required to sign a political party oath and their party selection is maintained as public information for 60 days. Click here to view the party oaths. While the party selection will be recorded and made public for each voter, all ballot choices will be completely secret. Click here to read the absentee ballot instructional insert.

Nearly 12 percent of King County voters will find local measures on their ballot in addition to the presidential candidates. Eligible voters may vote on these issues regardless of whether they participate in the presidential primary and affiliate with a political party.

Extended weekend hours to accommodate voters

To accommodate last minute requests for absentee ballots, King County Elections will have Saturday office hours on Feb. 2 and 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Presidents Day holiday reminder

February's Election Day is the day after Presidents Day, a federal and postal holiday. Voters are urged to consider mailing their ballots before the holiday, to make sure their ballot is returned on-time. Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 19 or can be dropped off at any polling location on Election Day.

In-person accessible voting

In-person accessible voting is available for all voters starting today through Feb. 19, Election Day, at King County Elections' Renton office weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.


Accessible voting units provide an audio and touch-screen ballot in English and Chinese. With large font and high contrast options and tactile devices, voting is made easy for people with partial or no vision and any voter with a disability. All voters are welcome to vote using an accessible voting unit.

King County Elections is located at 919 SW Grady Way in Renton and is accessible on Metro bus route 140.

View sample ballots, the pre-election forecast and other information online at http://www.metrokc.gov/elections/200802/

[tavalon]

1. But, if I understand correctly, only caucus chooses the delegates, right?

And within caucus, we can only caucus for the current candidates, correct?

[eridani]

2. Half right

Only the caucus counts for delegates, but you can caucus for any candidate, whether still in the race or not. Or you can go Uncommitted.

[raincity_calling]

3. In WA

For the Dems, it is the caucus process that grants delegates. The primary is essentially a straw poll for the Dems (for the GOP, a portion of the delegates are determined by the primary and a portion from the caucus.)

In the caucus you can vote for any candidate, including Edwards, Kucinch, etc. You can also vote uncomitted. I plan to vote Edwards.

I am attending my caucus and I am voting in the "straw poll" primary. I want everyone to know that I still support Edwards.

[eridani]

4. If Edwards can't get delegates in your precinct, go Uncommitted

That's the last chance for rebellion against media dictatorship of our electoral process.

[merwin]

5. Did you know that if Edwards doesn't get 15% of the caucus vote, your vote

will be for whoever wins the caucus?

At least that's what they were talking about on Air America numerous times yesterday.

If you want to throw your vote away, fine... But I would suggest you choose which of the two people who are left that you want to throw your support behind.

[eridani]

6. That is complete bullshit. There is no 15% threshold at the precinct level

That doesn't kick in until the LD level. Please stop spreading misinformation.

[merwin]

7. I never said it was at the precinct level.

The truth is that a vote for Edwards is a vote for the winner, unless he gets 15% of the caucus vote. There's no way he's going to hit the 15% threshold at the caucuses.

If I meant the precinct caucus, I would have said the precinct caucus.

[eridani]

8. Maybe, maybe not

There is a substantial amount of resentment about the media and big money dictating who we will here from and who our candidates must be. Eventually delegates will have to break for either Obama or Clinton, but that could conceivably be at the CD level, or even the national convention.

[LisaM]

9. Is there a place to vote in the primary IN PERSON?

I don't recall signing up for a ballot.

[eridani]

10. If you are in King County, your regular polling place. n/t