PRIMARIES IN WASHINGTON STATE
Washington was the first state in the country to establish a Top 2 Primary election system in place of a party nominating system. A Top 2 Primary narrows the number of candidates to two. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the Primary advance to the General Election, regardless of their party preference.
VOTING IN SKAGIT COUNTY
To be eligible to vote in Washington you must be:
- A citizen of the United States
- A legal resident of Washington StateAt least 18 years old by Election Day
- Not disqualified from voting due to a court order; and not under Department of Corrections supervision for a Washington felony conviction.
- A voter who lacks a traditional residence may use the place he or she currently sleeps at night or spends most of their time. A mailing address could be a General Delivery address or, if permission is granted, the address of a shelter or a friend or a relative.
VOTER REGISTRATION
Online
You can register to vote using MyVote:
weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/myvote/?Org=LWVSC
To register to vote using this online program, you must have either a valid Washington State Driver's License, or State Identification (ID) Card.
In Person
You can register to vote in person at the Skagit County Auditor's Office. We are located at:
700 S. 2nd St, Room 201 (corner of 2nd & Kincaid)
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Hours: M-F 8:30-4:30
By Mail
You can register to vote via mail by downloading and printing a registration form and sending it to our office. In addition, a registration form can be requested by calling our office at 360-416-1702.
Change of Address
If moving within Skagit County or moving to a new county, your new address must be reported to the Elections Department at least 29 days prior to the next election.
- If you register within 28 days or less of the election, your voter registration will be held and processed after the election is certified. Depending on the election, certification is anywhere from 10 days after Election Day up to 3 weeks.
- If you would like to verify that your registration has been received, please call or email your county's Election office.
- If you are not registered anywhere in the state & are registering for the first time, you may register in person at the Elections Department of the county that you live up to 8 days prior to the election.
Name Change
In order to change your name in our voter records, a new registration form must be filled out with your new signature. You can fill out a form in our office or send it in by mail.
Where to Vote
The State of Washington is an all vote-by-mail state. All voters receive their ballots in the mail and can return their ballots by mail or at drop-boxes whose locations are announced in advance of each election.
CONTACTING YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
Sharing your thoughts with the women and men who represent you at the local, state and national level is easy and vital to the functioning of our democracy. When an issue or legislation arises that you care about, contact your representatives by email, phone or regular mail to ensure that your voice is heard.
Tips for Communicating with Elected Officials
- Email is now the common method of communication, but phone calls and letters may be more effective.
- Be courteous and to the point.
- Keep letters to one page.
- Letters to elected offcials should be addressed to “The Honorable” plus name, or “Position” plus name, as in “The Honorable Jane Doe” or “Councilmember Jane Doe.”
- Describe specifically and in your own words how an issue or legislation will affect you or others you know.
- Include the bill number or its popular name if you are commenting on specific legislation.
- Be sure to give your name, address and phone number.
- Ask for a response.
- Give positive feedback. Take the time to also let representatives know when they have done something of which you particularly approve.
- Remember, your elected offcials represent you!