Voting is Our Superpower!
The General Election – Tuesday, November 3rd – is just a quick 4 months away and the mid-term election cycle has already begun across the country. With this in mind, all of the actions we’re sharing this week have to do with voting – because voting is how we are going to make change in our country!
Primary results in other states have been all over the news in the last weeks with some amazing election wins for progressive candidates like Dr. Jasmine Clark in Georgia, Analilia Mejia in New Jersey, Randy Villegas in California, and Darializa Avila Chevalier and Brad Lander in New York. These are fighters who have prevailed over establishment incumbents in safe blue districts who should have been fighting for their constituents but did not rise to the moment. This is the beginning of having a Democratic party capable of winning back Congress, defeating the fascist regime and creating a government that works FOR THE PEOPLE!
Ballots here in Washington will be mailed the week of July 13th meaning we are only 5 weeks away from the August 4th Primary Election. It’s time to lean into the work that assures we can celebrate who will be on our ballots in November!
Below are two new initiatives that need volunteers to make them happen – keep reading to find out how you can take action to assure their success!
Get Out the Vote in Issaquah and Sammamish!
Mid-term elections traditionally have low voter turnout and, unfortunately, we expect our upcoming August 4th primary to follow that tradition. We know that canvassing and phonebanking are important tools for getting out the vote, but we believe there is also an opportunity to remind folks how important their vote is in a new way.
For the first time, we are going to take advantage of the Issaquah Farmers’ Market in the weeks before the primary to hand out ‘zines (similar to the ones we put in the Whistle Kits) with reminders to vote, what is on the ballot, where to find out more about the races, what to do if you lose your ballot, and why it’s so important to vote. Use the button below to see the ‘zine. You can even print some, fold them up, and share with friends and neighbors.
At the Saturday Issaquah Farmers Market, we’ll be using the Free Speech area to hand out our zine, have some good conversations, and remind people to vote. And, if we can get enough volunteers, we have a stretch goal to bring this initiative to the Issaquah Concert on the Green held on Tuesday evenings.
It will only take a handful of volunteers to make this effort successful!
If you’re willing to print or fold the zines or take a shift on for a Saturday Market or Tuesday concert, please reach out to Robin at indivisiblewa8@gmail.com.
- Shifts at the Market will be on Saturdays between July 11 and August 1st (time TBD but around the lunch hour for an hour or two)
- Or, shifts at Concerts on the Green will be on Tuesdays between July 14 and August 4th from 6-7pm
Adopt a Ballot Box for the August Primary
This year, King County Elections will be making a big push to return ballots via a drop box rather than US Mail for all the reasons you have likely read about. In order to support that effort, King County Democrats have a new Adopt a Ballot Box program designed to make sure there are regular eyes on the nearly 100 ballot drop boxes and they are looking for volunteers.
This is a wonderful opportunity with a relatively short commitment – the two weeks prior to election day, from July 21st – Aug 4th – to make sure there are no shenanigans at your favorite drop box!
As a volunteer, you will:
- Attend a mandatory ballot box observer training. (Virtual training via Teams.)
- On a “daily-ish” basis, swing by “your” ballot box to see if it’s full, if there are any curious happenings, or anyone lingering for long periods of time. (An example of this is, one year, a mall security guard took to hanging out near the ballot box, which some voters found intimidating.)
- If you observe something curious or concerning, you’ll contact the lead organizer who will contact King County Elections. They will then determine whether or not to take any action based on the circumstances.
You will NEVER EVER talk to a voter or confront someone you find concerning – this is voter intimidation and would have serious consequences for you, KCDems, and for voter’s trust. - Observe the official Ballot Box Closure at your assigned box on election night, Tue, August 4, 2026 for the primary, from about 7:00-8:30 pm.
If you are interested, you will need to:
- Sign up for a virtual Ballot Box observing training conducted by King County Elections. Wed, July 1, 6:00 pm. (This specific date has been set up specifically for KC Dems. If that date is not possible for you, trainings are also available on Thu, July 23, 6 – 7 p.m.or Wed, July 29, 4 – 5 p.m)
- Sign up for a specific drop box.
Questions? Contact Sally, one of the coordinators of the Ballot Box Observing program, at kcdemsballotbox@gmail.com
Tell USPS: Don’t Undermine WA’s Vote-by-Mail System!
Time Sensitive! Take Action by July 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time!
Looking toward the November election, we need to stand up for our gold standard mail-in-ballot system and oppose meddling by the federal government.
Although a Federal Judge in Massachusetts has rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to coerce voter lists from states and change federal election procedures through executive order, this issue is not fully resolved. Join the League of Women Voters in opposing the proposed new rule from the United States Postal Service (USPS) that would create barriers to voting by mail. The proposal would impose new federal requirements on election mail, like requiring states to provide USPS with lists of voters eligible to receive mail ballots for federal elections. It would also give USPS a new role in election administration — responsibilities that belong to state and local election officials. Washington’s vote-by-mail system is secure, accessible, and trusted by voters across the state. Changes that could delay ballots, increase administrative burdens, or make it harder for eligible voters to participate threaten a system that works well for Washingtonians. The USPS public comment period is open until July 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
