It’s August, and tomorrow is the primary election for Seattle City Council, King County, and Snohomish County councils. We’ve put together some important news articles about this election below. Read up and get your ballots in today to make your voice heard!
- King County grants seek to help hard-to-reach voters. [KUOW]
The Voter Education Fund has awarded $11 million to 39 organizations, some of the newest groups are focused on increasing voting among people with disabilities, people of color, and folks with justice system involvement.
- These voters are using democracy vouchers to influence Seattle’s City Council races. [Seattle Times]
Seattle's program of publicly financing elections has given power to ordinary people, and candidates have begun seeking them out.
- Same-day voter registration is coming to WA. Can the state's new system cope? [Crosscut]
Washington moved to allow same-day registration this year, but how that will work in practice has required big changes for each county, as well as the state elections department.
- King County’s homeless voters, usually few, could show up in bigger numbers this year. [Seattle Times]
There are many barriers to voting while homeless, but some have been reduced this year so more can exercise their rights.
- Seattle's democracy vouchers don't violate free speech rights, WA Supreme Court rules. [Crosscut]
An unanimous ruling by the state Supreme Court clears the way for more Washington cities to fund their elections publicly.
- Follow the money: Seattle's election draws big donations from murky sources. [The C is for Crank]
Independent journalist Erica C. Barnett tracks the huge dollars spent by PACs and the confusing rules about when and how democracy voucher candidates can spend additional funds when dark money groups target them.
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Eric Bronson is the Digital Advocacy and Engagement Manager at YWCA. He manages the Firesteel blog in addition to its social media streams and action initiatives. A graduate of Oberlin College, Eric focuses on the intersection of race and gender within the American political economy.
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