Oct. 9, 2006
2006/10/10
General Election: November 7
What to do now to ensure you’re ready
With campaign ads filling mail boxes and the November 7 General Election just four weeks away, King County Elections urges all voters to do their part to prepare for the upcoming election.
Absentee voters
Starting October 18, absentee ballots in English and Chinese will be mailed to more than 575,000 King County voters. As part of an ongoing effort to enhance security measures and protect voter identity, ballot return envelopes now feature a new security flap to cover voters’ signatures.
Remember, your signature makes your vote count. The only way to legally count an absentee ballot is to verify and match your signature to the one on your voter registration record. If your signature has changed, you must update your records with King County Elections.
 Voters who do not receive their absentee ballot in the mail by Friday, October 27 should call 206-296-VOTE (8683). Some voters, who moved without notifying the elections office, may be on inactive status until we receive a current address. Voters can confirm their registration information and build a custom voter pamphlet by using the “Voter Guide” feature on King County Election’s Web site http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections. For those without internet access, registration information can also be confirmed by calling King County Elections at 206-296-VOTE (8683).
Poll voters
While a majority of King County voters choose to cast their ballot by mail, we have not made the transition to entirely vote-by-mail at this time. In fact, we will have 508 polling places open on Tuesday, November 7.
When voting at the polls, voters need to show proper identification to vote. Acceptable identification includes a Washington State driver’s license, tribal identification card, student identification, a voter registration card, a utility bill in the voter’s name, a birth certificate, paycheck, copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or other government document.
King County Elections is still looking for poll workers to staff the November 7 election. Poll workers are responsible for opening and closing their polling places on Election Day, instructing voters on proper voting procedures, and setting up vote tabulation equipment. Poll workers must be comfortable with computers and new technologies, follow instructions, and be sensitive to voters with special needs. There is four-hour paid training.
For more information or to sign up, please contact the Poll Worker Coordination Office at pollworker@kingcounty.gov or 206-296-1606.
Important election dates
October 13 Voters’ Pamphlet mailed
October 18 – 20 Absentee ballots mailed
October 23 New residents to Washington State have an extended deadline, and can register to vote in-person at the King County Elections office or at any Community Service Center up to 15 days prior to the election. A list of Community Service Centers is available online at http://your.kingcounty.gov/csc/
November 7 Election Day (absentee ballots must be postmarked and mailed)
King County Elections is located in the King County Administration Building, 500 Fourth Avenue, Room 553 in Seattle.
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