Local Voters' Pamphlet
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WHATCOM COUNTY OFFICIAL LOCAL VOTERS’ PAMPHLET Primary - September 19, 2006 PublishedPublished byby thethe WhatcomWhatcom CountyCounty Auditor’sAuditor’s OfficeOffice —— www.co.whatcom.wa.us/auditorwww.co.whatcom.wa.us/auditor Dear Whatcom County Voters: In the November 2005 General Election, Whatcom County voters approved an amendment to the Whatcom County Charter that adds a duty on the Auditor to publish and distribute a Local Voters’ Pamphlet for primary and general elections. We are very excited that this is the first Local Voters’ Pamphlet in Whatcom County’s history! Inside you will find candidate’s photos and statements as well as statements on a ballot issue. Please review the Local Voters’ Pamphlet for details regarding voting in the primary, registering to vote, change of address, drop site locations and other important information. For the first time in Whatcom County we will be using a consolidated ballot for the Primary Election. Court decisions require a “pick-a-party” primary. The system requires you to select a party ballot if you wish to vote for candidates in a partisan office. You can only vote for the candidates of the one political party you select for the primary. Your privacy will be protected; the political party you choose for the primary will not go on record. Your opportunity to vote for candidates for non-partisan offices is not affected. Remember, this change applies only to the primary election. If you have not received your ballot fifteen (15) days prior to the election, please call the Elections Division of the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office at 360-676-6742 to have a replacement ballot mailed to you. Please help us ensure that you receive your ballot by notifying Elections if your mailing address has recently changed. Feel free to call if you have any questions about the voting process and/or your ballot. AN IMPORTANT REMINDER: To ensure your vote will be counted, your ballot needs to be postmarked no later than Election Day. If you prefer, you may drop your ballot off at the curbside Ballot Drop Box, 311 Grand Ave. near the Courthouse Rotunda, Bellingham, WA or at the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office, 311 Grand Ave., Suite 103, Bellingham, beginning 20 days prior to the election. The curbside Ballot Drop Box and the Drop Box at the Auditor’s Office will close at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Please refer to the Local Voters’ Pamphlet for drop site locations open on Election Day only. I would like to praise Whatcom County voters for their approval of a Local Voters’ Pamphlet. Knowledge empowers you to make informed choices that ultimately shape the future governing of our community, state, and nation. Sincerely, Shirley Forslof Whatcom County Auditor Participating Jurisdictions: Legislative Districts, Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney, Court of Appeals Division 1 District 3 Position 1, Cemetery District No. 1 Table of Contents WHATCOM COUNTY OFFICIAL LOCAL VOTERS’ PAMPHLET Primary - September 19, 2006 Marking Your Ballot .................................................4 Accessible Voting Unit .............................................5 Special Notice ...........................................................6 Sample Ballot ...........................................................7 Where Can I Deposit My Ballot? .............................8 Voter Information ........................................... 9 & 10 Candidates For Democratic Offices ................. 11-14 Candidates For Republican Offices .................. 15-18 Candidates for Judicial Offices ...............................19 Ballot Measure .......................................................20 County Auditor and Election Dept. Contact Information ......................21 Complete Text of Local Measure ............................22 Mail-In Voter Registration ...........................22 & 23 Published by the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office — www.co.whatcom.wa.us/auditor Marking Your Ballot - Make Your Vote Count STEP 1: Mark Your Ballot. Use a blue or black pen or a #2 pencil to connect the arrow by your choice with one single dark line. Do NOT use a sharpie or similar type felt pen. • Make no identifying marks on your ballot or on the YES NO secrecy envelope. • Voted ballots are read electronically so any extra marks on the ballot will Use a blue or black pen delay processing. or a #2 pencil to connect the arrow by your choice STEP 2: Keep It Secret. Place with one single dark line. the voted ballot in the white Do NOT use a sharpie secrecy envelope and seal it. or similar type felt pen. STEP : Mailing Envelope. Place the white secrecy envelope inside the lavender return envelope. STEP : Sign The Oath. Read and sign the affidavit on the back of the lavender envelope. • The lavender envelope must be signed by you in order for your ballot to be counted. • Ballot signatures are matched with your voter registration. • If a medical or other circumstance has altered the appearance of your signature, you can have two people witness your signature (or mark) on your ballot envelope. STEP 5: Protect Your Privacy. Seal the envelope so the privacy flap covers your signature as indicated on the envelope. STEP 6: Mail Your Ballot. Affix a first-class postage stamp before you deposit your ballot in the mail. • To assure your vote will be counted, your ballot needs to be postmarked no later than Election Day or deposited at a drop site location by 8:00 p.m on Election Day. Accessible Voting Unit What is an Accessible Voting Unit? An accessible voting unit (AVU) is federally required. It is equipped with visual and audio technology that allows voters with impaired vision and/or physical disabilities to vote a secret ballot for the first time. The AVU is an accurate and secure way to vote. Where will the AVU be located? The AVU will be located at the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office, Whatcom County Courthouse, 311 Grand Ave., Suite 103, Bellingham, WA. When can I vote using the AVU? You may vote beginning Wednesday, August 30, 2006. The AVU will be available to vote in the Auditor’s Office Mon. – Fri., 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The AVU will be available on Election Day, Tuesday, September 19, 2006, from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Is the AVU secure? Yes. The AVU stands alone and is not connected to the Internet or an intranet. When a vote is cast the ballot selections are encrypted and stored within the voting unit. The ballot order is scrambled to ensure the voter’s anonymity and leaves no connection between the voter and his or her recorded vote. How can I be sure my vote will be counted? The AVU displays a paper record of your selections before you cast your ballot. Your secret ballot is electronically stored and it cannot be traced back to you. 5 Special Notice When Will Vote By Mail Ballots Be Mailed? Vote by mail ballots are scheduled to be mailed starting August 30, 2006. If you have not received your ballot by September 5, 2006, please contact the Whatcom County Elections Division at (360) 676-6742, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. SPECIAL NOTICE VOTING IN THE PRIMARY There’s A Change EASY AS 1 2 3 In Our Primary Washington State’s primary system 1 requires you to select a party ballot Choose if you want to vote for candidates a party for partisan office. You may only vote for the candidates of one political party in the primary. Your privacy will be protected; no record of your political party preference will be made. Your opportunity to vote for candidates for nonpartisan office is not affected by this law. is change applies only to the Vote for primary election. candidates within that Complete the 3 party ballot3 by voting in the nonpartisan contests 2 and on ballot measures - even if you choose not to select a party For assistance, please call: (360) 676-6742 or go to www.co.whatcom.wa.us/auditor 6 Sample Ballot Voters will see only the Legislative District and Precinct Committee Officer candidates which apply to their voting address. TO VOTE: Use either pencil, blue or black pen. SAMPLE BALLOT CONNECT THE HEAD AND TAIL of the arrow that points to your choice. WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON TO CHANGE A VOTE: Do not erase, but request a replacement ballot. PRIMARY ELECTION SEPTEMBER 19, 2006 TO WRITE-IN: A name not on the ballot, connect the arrow and write in the name of the candidate in the space provided. IMPORTANT PRIMARY AND SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS VOTING INSTRUCTIONS REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT NO. 40 REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT NO. 39 All Voters Are Entitled To Vote This 1. Select one political party POSITION NO. 1 POSITION NO. 1 Section. These votes will be counted, preference. If you do not select a party 2 YEAR TERM Vote For One 2 YEAR TERM Vote For One even if you do not mark a party preference. D R preference or if you select more than DAVE QUALL DAN KRISTIANSEN Descriptors added to distinguish one party, your votes for a partisan (Write-In) (Write-In) candidates with the same last name. All candidate will not count. candidates for this office are attorneys, as 2. Vote for a candidate from the party REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT NO. 40 REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT NO. 39 required by law. you selected. This ballot has been POSITION NO. 2 POSITION NO. 2 2 YEAR TERM Vote For One JUDICIAL color coded to assist you in selecting a 2 YEAR TERM Vote For One candidate who corresponds to your JEFF MORRIS D KIRK PEARSON R STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE party selection. Votes for another POSITION 2 party’s candidate will not count. (Write-In) (Write-In) 6 YEAR TERM Vote For One STATE SENATOR DISTRICT NO. 42 REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT NO. 40 3. Vote for nonpartisan offices and MICHAEL JOHNSON NP 4 YEAR TERM Vote For One POSITION NO.