Welcome to mid-July! It's hard to believe that 2019 is already half over and we are closer to Christmas than we are past New Year's. 

Much of that time in my office has been spent bringing the state's new election registration and management system — called VoteWA — online. It is an important tool to combat cyber threats that all 39 counties are now facing. Since its launch last month, VoteWA has enabled us to fortify the cybersecurity of our state and county elections to a level simply not possible with our current systems. We have added multiple layers of firewalls, monitoring, and threat detection software to protect election servers from intrusion. A team of over 80 election and IT professionals collaborated on this innovative solution to a complex and urgent problem. Read my article in the Seattle Times for more on why VoteWA was needed to protect Washington elections.

For the first time, county election officials will be able to issue and track ballots for processing in real time with the VoteWA statewide voter registration system in the August Primary. Additionally, VoteWA will provide the access and security necessary to effectively implement the new Same Day Registration, Automatic Voter Registration, and Future Voter Program laws that took effect this year.

I'm pleased to report the collaborative development of VoteWA is on-scope, on-time, and on-budget, and I have the utmost confidence in our county partners and the VoteWA solution they have helped design. You can learn more about VoteWA by visiting my website here.

As always, I greatly appreciate your interest in my office. Please forward this message to anyone you think might be interested in reading it and encourage them to subscribe. You can also follow our office on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
 
Thank you for the privilege of serving as your Secretary of State.  

Sincerely,

WASHINGTON ELECTION LAWS TAKE EFFECT

A number of new election laws took effect July 1st, including an earlier Presidential Primary, prepaid ballot-return envelopes, automatic voter registration, same day voter registration, and the Future Voter program for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Washington state’s Presidential Primary will take place more than two months earlier than in previous years. In 2020, it will be on March 10th, which means your vote will have a greater impact in selecting the final presidential candidates, and you’ll be more likely to hear directly from candidates about Washington state issues.

Additionally, every ballot in Washington will now come with a prepaid ballot-return envelope. There's no more searching for a stamp when every mailbox is a drop box! Also, Washington residents applying for an enhanced driver’s license or enhanced ID card (which requires proof of citizenship) with the Department of Licensing will be automatically registered to vote unless they opt-out at the counter.

NO INITIATIVES TO THE PEOPLE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT

Throughout the year, there are a number of election deadlines that are specified in either state law or the Washington State Constitution. One of them is the deadline to submit signatures in support of Initiatives to the People, which passed earlier this month without any petitions being turned in. That means there won't be any Initiatives to the People on your ballot this fall.

There will, however, be one Initiative to the Legislature on the ballot since the Legislature didn't act on it during their session earlier this year. There may also be Referendum Measures on the ballot if signatures for those are turned in before the July 27th deadline. 

And if you're asking, "what's the difference between Initiatives to the People, Initiatives to the Legislature, Referendum Measures, and Referendum Bills?" now would be a great time to learn more about how citizen lawmaking in Washington state works. Head over to the information page on the Elections website to find out how you can get involved in the process.

CITIZEN CEREMONY INCLUDES VOTER REGISTRATION OPPORTUNITY

I was honored to celebrate the 4th of July by congratulating over 500 immigrants from more than 80 nations as they became citizens in the 35th Annual Naturalization Ceremony at Seattle Center.
 
My office was there to help these new citizens register to vote, and answer any questions about the importance of participating in a democratic government. This event is one of my favorites that I look forward to every year.

COMBINED FUND DRIVE CELEBRATES 35TH BIRTHDAY

The Combined Fund Drive is turning 35, and as part of the celebration they’ve partnered with the Tacoma Rainiers for a series of fundraising game nights. The next game is Friday, July 19th, and a portion of each ticket will go directly towards the Combined Fund Drive, the state’s workplace giving program for active and retired public employees.

Enjoy post-game fireworks after the July 19th game and post-game kids run the bases after the August 24th game. Game time for each game is 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets must be purchased through the group sales contact listed in the event flyer.

NOMINATE A COMPANY THAT GOES THE EXTRA MILE

Each year, the Office of the Secretary of State calls for nominations for the Corporations for Communities Award. Now in its tenth year, the Corporations for Communities award program recognizes for-profit businesses that give back to Washington State communities despite having no requirement to be generous.

One of the highlights of my job is bringing attention to these companies that go the extra mile, not only for their customers but their communities. I want to encourage anyone who knows of a business active in charitable causes to nominate them for the award. Nominations must be submitted by August 31st, and can be submitted online or by mail using forms on the Corporations and Charities Division's website at http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/corpsforcommunities/.

LEGACY WASHINGTON AUTHORS TO SIGN BOOKS IN OLYMPIA

Join Legacy Washington authors John C. Hughes, Bob Young, and Lori Larson at Browsers Bookshop in Olympia to support the book, 1968: The Year That Rocked Washington. 1968 is the latest compilation of stories from Legacy Washington that spotlights Washingtonians whose lives reflected the unsettling problems and soaring ideals of the 1960s.

Come to Browsers on Wednesday, July 24th, at 7:00 p.m. to meet the authors, hear about their experiences writing the profiles, and get a signed copy of the latest Legacy Washington publication. Browsers is located at 107 Capitol Way N. in Olympia.