<p>Hello, Washington. It’s Election Day.</p>
<p>While we’re all paying close attention to the presidential election, Washingtonians are also making decisions about the future of the state. </p>
<p>We’re choosing our next governor, a new <a href=”https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/07/four-candidates-are-vying-fill-open-wa-supreme-court-seat?_gl=1*1b31m0v*_gcl_au*MTgyNjkwNDYwOC4xNzIzNjY4OTI2*_ga*NDI3MzQxNDIzLjE3MjM2Njg4OTQ.*_ga_70LNVYDG8V*MTczMDc0MjY4NS4xNDkuMS4xNzMwNzQzNzY0LjYwLjAuMA..”>Supreme Court justice</a> and most of the Legislature, and making some big tax decisions that will affect the state budget as well as the environment and your personal budget.</p>
<p>It’s a big ballot, with a number of races and issues you may not feel prepared to opine on. Here are four pieces of good news to get you ready to pick up your pen and vote:</p>
Cascade PBS is filled with information to guide you, but we will not tell you how to vote. Check out our <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/voter-guide/washington-statewide-voter-guide-2024″>statewide voter guide</a> and <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics”>all the stories</a> we’ve been publishing about the various races on the ballot.
You can pick and choose which items to vote on; you are not required to fill out the whole ballot.
If you can’t find your ballot or aren’t registered to vote, it’s not too late. Washington has same-day voter registration. You just have to show up in person at a county voting center.
Your ballot envelope may include an “I voted” sticker, or you may be able to pick one up when you drop off your ballot or show up in person. Wear it with pride. Voting is cool.
<p>In addition to picking a brand-new governor, Washington voters are also choosing a new attorney general and insurance and lands commissioners. Two congressional seats are wide open – <a href=”https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/07/competitive-field-open-us-house-seat-was-6th-district”>on the coast</a> and <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/10/2024-debates-5th-congressional-district-baumgartner-conroy”>around Spokane</a> – and at least three other congressional districts have competitive races this primary election. Voters are also making choices about every seat in the Washington House and about half of the state Senate. Plus, Seattle voters are <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/news/2024/10/seattle-council-candidates-make-their-case-citywide-office”>choosing a city-wide councilmember</a> to serve a one-year term.</p>
<p>Just after 8 p.m. Tuesday evening, county elections offices will share what they’ve tallied from ballots received so far. But some races won’t be decided for a few days.</p>
<p>Cascade PBS is <a href=”https://crosscut.com/voter-guide/washington-statewide-voter-guide-2024″>following all these races</a> and will <a href=”https://crosscut.com/live-updates-Washington-state-2024-primary-election-results”>post the first batch of results</a> as soon after 8 p.m. as we can, as well as publishing breaking news about some of the biggest races. County officials will keep counting ballots in the days and weeks to come.
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How to vote
<p>It’s not too late to drop your ballot in a <a href=”https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-registration/drop-box-and-voting-center-locations”>county drop box</a>, but elections officials recommend against using post boxes on Election Day because there’s no guarantee those ballots will be postmarked on time.</p>
<p>Even if you do not have a ballot in hand, you’ll need to get to a <a href=”https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-registration/county-elections-offices”>county elections office</a> or voting center to register and vote in person.</p>
<p>If you’re already registered and just lost your ballot or your dog ate it, you can visit that same elections office in person to get a replacement ballot, or you may be able to print one online. Your <a href=”https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-registration/county-elections-offices”>county elections office</a> will explain more on their online portal.</p>
<p>The Secretary of State’s office <a href=”https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/helpful-information/frequently-asked-questions-about-elections”>answers other voting questions</a> on its website. And the<a href=”https://crosscut.com/voter-guide/washington-statewide-voter-guide-2024″> Cascade PBS Statewide Voter Guide</a> has a handy Q&A as well. The voter guide is a good source of information if you’re still filling out your ballot. In addition to information about nearly every candidate and ballot issue statewide, the guide also includes links to stories about the races.
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Some helpful links
<p><strong>Statewide officials</strong></p>
<p>Governor: <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/09/ferguson-reichert-heat-governor-debate-stage-spokane”>Ferguson, Reichert heat up governor debate stage in Spokane</a> </p>
<p><a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/09/recap-5-top-takeaways-washingtons-governor-debate”>Recap: 5 top takeaways from Washington’s governor debate</a> </p>
<p>Attorney General: <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/09/7-takeaways-washington-attorney-general-debate”>7 takeaways from the Washington attorney general debate</a> </p>
<p><a href=”https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/05/what-attorney-general-theyre-more-attorney-general”>What is an attorney general? They’re more attorney than general</a></p>
<p>Public Lands Commissioner: <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/09/5-takeaways-wa-public-lands-commissioner-debate”>5 takeaways from the WA public lands commissioner debate</a> </p>
<p><a href=”https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/07/wa-public-lands-commissioner-race-attracts-unusually-crowded-field”>WA public lands commissioner race attracts unusually crowded field</a> </p>
<p>OSPI: <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/09/5-takeaways-superintendent-public-instruction-debate”>5 takeaways from the superintendent of public instruction debate</a> </p>
<p><a href=”https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/07/hotly-contended-race-wa-superintendent-public-schools”>Hotly contended race for WA superintendent of public schools</a> </p>
<p>Secretary of State: <a href=”https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/07/election-cybersecurity-top-mind-was-secretary-state-race”>Election cybersecurity top of mind in WA secretary of state race</a></p>
<p>Insurance Commissioner: <a href=”https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/07/what-does-washington-state-insurance-commissioner-do”>What does the WA insurance commissioner do?</a> </p>
<p>Supreme Court: <a href=”https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/07/four-candidates-are-vying-fill-open-wa-supreme-court-seat”>Four candidates are vying to fill open Supreme Court seat</a></p>
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<strong>Statewide ballot initiatives</strong></p>
<p>Carbon Tax I-2117: <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/voter-guide/washington-statewide-voter-guide-2024/election/Will%20carbon%20tax%20initiative%202117%20lower%20gas%20prices?%20That%E2%80%99s%20debatable”>Will carbon tax initiative 2117 lower gas prices? That’s debatable</a></p>
<p><a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/07/wa-ballot-initiative-would-cut-8486m-environmental-programs”>WA ballot initiative would cut $848.6M of environmental programs</a></p>
<p>Capital Gains I-2109: <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/voter-guide/washington-statewide-voter-guide-2024/election/Capital%20gains%20tax%20repeal%20could%20cost%20WA%20public%20schools%20billions”>Capital gains tax repeal could cost WA public schools billions</a></p>
<p><a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/09/washington-ballot-initiatives-lose-ground-voters-new-poll”>Washington ballot initiatives lose ground with voters in new poll</a></p>
<p>WA Cares program I-2124: <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/10/initiative-2124-would-make-wa-cares-insurance-program-tax-optional”>Initiative 2124 would make WA Cares insurance program tax optional</a></p>
<p>Natural Gas I-2066: <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/09/does-washington-need-ban-prevent-natural-gas-bans”>Does Washington need a ban to prevent natural gas bans?</a></p>
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<strong>Congress</strong></p>
<p>3rd District: <a href=”https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/08/gluesenkamp-perez-faces-maga-rematch-us-house-rural-wa”>Gluesenkamp Perez faces MAGA rematch for U.S. House in rural WA</a></p>
<p>4th District: <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/10/wa-4th-congressional-candidate-sessler-says-muslims-shouldnt-serve”>4th Congressional candidate says Muslims shouldn’t serve </a>
<a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/10/democrat-starts-write-campaign-central-wa-congressional-race”>Democrat starts write-in campaign in 4th Congressional District</a></p>
<p><a href=”https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/07/central-wa-4th-district-race-heats-conservative-showdown”>In Central WA, 4th District race heats up in conservative showdown</a></p>
<p>5th District: <a href=”https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/06/spokane-area-5th-district-race-wide-open-mcmorris-rodgers-out”>Spokane-area 5th District race wide open with McMorris Rodgers out</a> </p>
<p>6th District: <a href=”https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/07/competitive-field-open-us-house-seat-was-6th-district”>Competitive field for open U.S. House seat in WA’s 6th District</a></p>
<p>Senate: <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/09/garcia-challenges-seasoned-incumbent-cantwell-us-senate-seat”>Garcia challenges seasoned incumbent Cantwell for U.S. Senate</a></p>
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<strong>Seattle</strong></p>
<p>City Council: <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/09/5-takeaways-seattle-city-council-position-8-debate”>Takeaways from Seattle City Council Position 8 debate</a></p>
<p><a href=”https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/07/how-seattle-council-candidates-differ-crime-taxes-homelessness”>How Seattle council candidates differ on crime, taxes, homelessness</a></p>
<p>Seattle Transportation Levy: <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/10/case-and-against-seattles-largest-ever-transportation-levy”>The case for and against Seattle’s largest-ever transportation levy</a></p>
<p><a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/07/seattle-city-council-sends-155b-transportation-tax-ballot”>Seattle City Council sends $1.55B transportation tax to the ballot</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/election-2024″ hreflang=”en”>Election 2024</a>, <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/elections” hreflang=”en”>Elections</a>, <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/elections-2024-0″ hreflang=”en”>Elections 2024</a>, <a href=”https://www.cascadepbs.org/seattle-city-elections” hreflang=”en”>Seattle City Elections</a></p>
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