Voter registration deadline for Primary approaching

If you are not registered to vote in Washington State but want to vote in the Aug. 17 Primary, you still have time. Monday, Aug. 9 is the deadline for in-person registration at your county elections office.

July 19 was the deadline to register via online or mail for the upcoming Primary.

Go here www.sos.wa.gov/elections/auditors.aspx to visit a county Web site to get more information about the upcoming Primary Election and candidates listed on the ballot. Click here http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/en/candidatefiling/Pages/Candidateswhohavefiled.aspx to see a list of candidates who have filed with the Office of Secretary of State.

Secretary of State Sam Reed, who is predicting a 38-percent voter turnout in August, urges voters to use their voice by taking part in the Primary.

“We have some exciting primary races for U.S. Senate and several congressional seats, including the 3rd District,” Reed said. “We also have lots of legislative, county and other local races on tap. Voting is easier and more convenient than ever. I hope people will take advantage by filling out their ballot at home and either mailing it back or delivering it to their county elections office or drop box.”

This year’s Primary features a hotly contested race for U.S. Senate featuring incumbent Democrat Patty Murray, former state Senator and two-time Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi, Republican and Tea Party favorite Clint Didier, Republican Paul Akers and others.

There’s also a closely watched open race in Southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District featuring Democrat and TVW founder Denny Heck, Republican state Rep. Jaime Herrera, and Republican and former Bush administration official David Castillo, among others.

Reed reminds voters to study all of the voter information available to them, including local voters’ pamphlets in some areas, My Vote and online voters’ guides such as the one provided by the state Elections Division to learn more about the candidates and the issues before filling out their ballot.

To access My Vote and the Elections Division’s online voters’ guide, visit vote.wa.gov and click on the “My Vote” icon and the 2010 Primary Online Voters’ Guide link.

The Aug. 17 Primary will again feature the Top 2 system that was first used in 2008 after Washington voters approved it in 2004 and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld it in March 2008.

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