We hear so much about how screwed up some states are when it comes to voting and rightly so, it is really important what is going on in Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, and the others. But lets take a quick look at what happened here in Washington State for me.
First off a few months back I got a letter from my county elections office (King). It was my new voters card and said that if anything was wrong to contact them (instructions inside) to correct it. Otherwise if I do nothing, I will get a ballot at the address listed several weeks before the election. Since there was nothing wrong I clipped out the “card” part and put it in the desk drawer just in case.
Washington State is a 100% vote by mail state. This meant that I got a ballot about 4 weeks ago. This was followed by my statewide voters guide and then a local voters guide. I have been putting off filling out my ballot for awhile because while I know who I’m voting for for president, senator, and so on there are local races and some judges I want to put some though into.
Anyway, I filled out the ballot on this Saturday and later in the afternoon dropped off my ballot at one of the drop boxes located in front of my City Hall. I could have slapped a stamp on it and put it in the mailbox too if I wanted.
No lines... no muss... no fuss.
Ah, but here is where I want to share two short stories on when things go wrong and what happens.
First story...
About 4 years ago for an off year election I realized 2 days before election day that I had no ballot. I’ve lived in the same house for years so I’m positive I accidently dumped it with some junk mail by accident. I called up my county voters office (206-296-VOTE) and got right through (remember this is 2 days before). After I explained my situation she confirmed my voters info and asked if I had an email address. I said yes and the nice lady tells me she can email be a replacement ballot right away. They can’t scale this up to the whole county but for people in my situation it is no problem. I get a ballot and instructions within 30 minutes (in PDF format). I print it out, complete it, and mail it in. I get to vote after all! The whole process (not counting filling in the ballot) took maybe 10 minutes on the phone.
Second Story...
About 2 years ago I fill out my ballot and send it in weeks early because this time I’m on top of things. About a week later, I get a letter in the mail from my county elections office. It seems I have neglected to sign my ballot envelope. (so they not only do check those, they start early, smart guys!) However, they have enclosed a card (and pre-addresses stamped envelope). If I sign the card and send it in my ballot still get counted! I’m a little fuzzy on the details, but I seem to remember that I could have sent it in after election day and it would still be good. In any case I sent mine so early that it wasn’t a problem to return the card before election day had passed.
I mean how cool is that? I screwed up and they are fixing it (with a SASE no less). My ballot counts.
Go out and vote! I hope the process was as easy for you as it was for me.
