King County Elections using ambassadors to encourage use of vote-by-mail- King County

Sept. 19, 2006

King County Elections using ambassadors to encourage use of vote-by-mail

King County Elections today launched a new program encouraging voters to make the switch to voting by mail. Called the Ambassador Program, workers at select high-traffic primary polling stations across the county will be asking voters to sign up to vote by mail for the upcoming November 7 election on a one-time or recurring basis.

Additionally, radio advertising and internet banner ads encouraging voters to give voting by mail a try will start later this week. Currently, an estimated 71 percent of all ballots cast in the primary are expected to be cast by mail, continuing an upward trend of King County voters choosing to cast votes by mail.

To prepare for and familiarize poll voters with voting by mail, King County Elections Ambassadors will be present on primary Election Day to answer questions and address concerns, as well as register people to vote-by-mail. The Ambassadors are largely young people recruited from the University of Washington and Seattle University. They will be wearing King County Elections-logo t-shirts and will be stationed outside polling locations to recruit potential vote-by-mail users as they leave. The Ambassadors have been trained by elections officials and are instructed not to interfere with the voting process.

Since the Ambassadors are an extension of King County Elections, they will not be electioneering or promoting any candidates or ballot measures and are not conducting any exit polling.

Voters may register to vote-by-mail by filling out a registration form at the King County Elections Web site and mailing it to the county Elections Office by October 7 for the Nov. 7 general election. Vote-by-mail ballots for the November 7 general election in English and Chinese will be mailed to nearly 600,000 King County voters starting October 18. Any voters signing up before the November 7 will be added to that total for the general election.

Jim Buck, Interim Director of Records, Elections and Licensing Services, projects a primary election turnout of 37 percent of King County's 955,420 registered voters, a number consistent with past non-presidential, even-year general elections.

IMPORTANT VOTER INFORMATION

To vote in the November 7 general election, new Washington voters must register in-person at the King County Elections office or at any Community Service Center by Monday, Oct. 23, 2006. These voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for this election.
Vote-by-mail voters who do not receive their ballot in the mail by Friday, Oct. 27, 2006, should call 206-296-VOTE.
Several useful resources for voters, including the Local Voters' Pamphlet in English and Chinese and a sample ballot, are available on the county's Web site at your.kingcounty.gov/elections or by calling 206-296-VOTE.

Related info

Try it, you'll like it: Vote by mail!

King County Executive, Ron Sims County news Executive initiatives Executive offices Biography Contact information King County Executive Office Ron Sims, King County Executive 701 Fifth Ave. Suite 3210 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-296-4040 Fax: 206-296-0194 TTY Relay: 711	KING COUNTY HOME \| NEWS \| SERVICES \| DIRECTORY \| CONTACT King County Executive, Ron Sims King County Executive You're in: King County Executive, Ron Sims print Sept. 19, 2006 King County Elections using ambassadors to encourage use of vote-by-mail King County Elections today launched a new program encouraging voters to make the switch to voting by mail. Called the Ambassador Program, workers at select high-traffic primary polling stations across the county will be asking voters to sign up to vote by mail for the upcoming November 7 election on a one-time or recurring basis. Additionally, radio advertising and internet banner ads encouraging voters to give voting by mail a try will start later this week. Currently, an estimated 71 percent of all ballots cast in the primary are expected to be cast by mail, continuing an upward trend of King County voters choosing to cast votes by mail. To prepare for and familiarize poll voters with voting by mail, King County Elections Ambassadors will be present on primary Election Day to answer questions and address concerns, as well as register people to vote-by-mail. The Ambassadors are largely young people recruited from the University of Washington and Seattle University. They will be wearing King County Elections-logo t-shirts and will be stationed outside polling locations to recruit potential vote-by-mail users as they leave. The Ambassadors have been trained by elections officials and are instructed not to interfere with the voting process. Since the Ambassadors are an extension of King County Elections, they will not be electioneering or promoting any candidates or ballot measures and are not conducting any exit polling. Voters may register to vote-by-mail by filling out a registration form at the King County Elections Web site and mailing it to the county Elections Office by October 7 for the Nov. 7 general election. Vote-by-mail ballots for the November 7 general election in English and Chinese will be mailed to nearly 600,000 King County voters starting October 18. Any voters signing up before the November 7 will be added to that total for the general election. Jim Buck, Interim Director of Records, Elections and Licensing Services, projects a primary election turnout of 37 percent of King County's 955,420 registered voters, a number consistent with past non-presidential, even-year general elections. IMPORTANT VOTER INFORMATION To vote in the November 7 general election, new Washington voters must register in-person at the King County Elections office or at any Community Service Center by Monday, Oct. 23, 2006. These voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for this election. Vote-by-mail voters who do not receive their ballot in the mail by Friday, Oct. 27, 2006, should call 206-296-VOTE. Several useful resources for voters, including the Local Voters' Pamphlet in English and Chinese and a sample ballot, are available on the county's Web site at your.kingcounty.gov/elections or by calling 206-296-VOTE. Related info Try it, you'll like it: Vote by mail!
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	Updated: March 17, 2010