By otakuyassine3@gmail.com 
How mail-in and absentee voting works
All 50 states offer mail-in or absentee voting in some form.
Ballots for the general election on Nov. 5, which includes a Presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump all the way down to a local position on a Kitsap utility district board, along with several state initiatives, were mailed out Tuesday, according to the Kitsap Auditor’s Office.
Below are the races you’ll see listed for Kitsap County and Washington state, along with information about how to register, when your mail ballot is due and how to vote in-person if that’s preferred.
Election 2024: Upcoming Kitsap County forums to hear from candidates
Kitsap County races
Kitsap County Board of Commissioners, District 1: Christine Rolfes (Democrat) and Scott Henden (Independent)
Kitsap County Board of Commissioners, District 2: Sean Murphy (Republican) and Oran Root (Republican). Darryl Riley (Democrat) has also announced he is running a write-in campaign.
Kitsap County Public Utility District No. 1, Commissioner 3 (non-partisan): Heather Pauley, Rick Tift
North Kitsap School District Prop. 1, facilities and technology capital project levy
State Legislature (districts that include Kitsap and Mason counties)
23rd Legislative District, Senate: Lancy Byrd (Republican) and Drew Hansen (Democrat)
23rd Legislative District, House Pos. 1: Kurt Robertson (Republican) and Tarra Simmons (Democrat)
23th Legislative District, House Pos. 2: Jamie Miles (Republican) and Greg Nance (Democrat)
26th Legislative District, House Pos. 1: Adison Richards (Democrat) and Jesse Young (Republican)
26th Legislative District, House Pos. 2: Michelle Caldier (Republican) and Tiffiny Mitchell (Democrat)
35th Legislative District, House Pos. 1: Dan Griffey (Republican)
35th Legislative District, House Pos. 2: Travis Couture (Republican) and James DeHart (Democrat)
Washington State executive offices
Governor: Bob Ferguson (Democrat) and Dave Reichert (Republican)
Lt. Governor: Denny Heck (Democrat) and Dan Matthews (Republican)
Secretary of State: Steve Hobbs (Democrat) and Dale Whitaker (Republican)
State Treasurer: Sharon Hanek (Republican) and Mike Pelliccioti (Democrat)
State Auditor: Matt Hawkins (Republican) and Pat McCarthy (Democrat)
Attorney General: Nick Brown (Democrat) and Pete Serrano (Republican)
Commissioner of Public Lands: Jaime Herrera Beutler (Republican) and Dave Upthegrove (Democrat)
Superintendent of Public Instruction (nonpartisan): David Olson and Chris Reykdal
Insurance Commissioner: Phil Fortunado (Republican) and Patty Kuderer (Democrat)
Washington State ballot initiatives
Initiative 2066
The measure would repeal or prohibit certain laws and regulations that discourage natural gas use and/or promote electrification, and require certain utilities and local governments to provide natural gas to eligible customers. Read the measure’s full text here and read arguments for and against the measure here.
Initiative 2109
This measure would repeal an exicse tax imposed on the sale or exchange of certain long-term capital assets by individuals who have annual capital gains over $250,000. The measure would decrease funding for K-12 education, higher education, school construction, early learning and childcare. Read the measure’s full text here and read arguments for and against the measure here.
Initiative 2177
This measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, and repeal legislation establishing a cap and invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This measure would decrease funding for investments in transportation, clean air, renewable energy, conservation and emissions-reduction. Read the measure’s full text here and read arguments for and against the measure here.
Initiative 2124
This measure would provide that employees and self-employed people must elect to keep coverage under RCW 50B.04 and could opt-out any time. It would also repeal a law governing an exemption for employees. The measure would decrease funding for Washington’s public insurance program providing long-term care benefits and services. Read the measure’s full text here and read arguments for and against the measure here.
All statements are courtesy the Washington Secretary of State’s office.
Congressional races
U.S. Senate: Rep. Maria Cantwell (Democrat) and Dr. Raul Garcia (Republican)
U.S. House of Representatives, Sixth District: Drew MacEwen (Republican) and Emily Randall (Democrat)
How to register to vote in Washington
To be eligible to register to vote in Washington, you must meet the following three criteria: a United States citizen, a legal resident of the state for at least 30 days before the election, and be at least 18 years old. Residents currently incarcerated for a felony conviction are not eligible to vote.
Residents younger than 18 can sign up as a future voter, through the Washington Secretary of State’s Office, to be automatically registered when they reach voting age.
You can register to vote on Election Day and during early voting in Washington. You can verify your voting registration at www.votewa.gov.
Voter registration deadlines are as follows:
- Mail: Registrations must be received by close of business eight days before the election. Obtain one at www.sos.wa.gov, or contact the elections office in your county.
- In person: Register to vote at your county elections office or certain polling places by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
- Online: Register at www.votewa.gov. You must have a Washington state driver’s license or identification care to register online.
Vote by mail
The majority of Washington voters cast a ballot by mail. After you have registered, ballots are sent to home addresses or mailing addresses by local county auditors no earlier than 18 days before the election.
Voting in-person on Election Day
A limited number of in-person polling places are available in Kitsap County.
From Friday, Oct. 18 until Friday, Nov. 1, you may vote in person at the Kitsap County Auditor’s Office, 619 Division Street in Port Orchard, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Nov. 2, Monday, Nov. 4 and election day, Nov. 5, in-person voting is allowed at three locations: the Kitsap County Administration Building, 619 Division Street in Port Orchard, the Marvin Williams Recreation Center, 725 Park Avenue in Bremerton, and the Poulsbo Fire Station, 911 NE Liberty Road in Poulsbo.
If you’re eligible to vote, you can register to vote on Election Day and during early voting. You will need to show ID if you plan to register and vote on the same day.
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