Pierce County Official Local Voters’ Pamphlet Primary Election - August 17, 2010 Your guide to Federal, State, and Pierce County candidates. Published by the Pierce County Auditor's Offi ce piercecountywa.org/elections MessageMessage from from the the Auditor Auditor Dear Pierce County Voter: Civic Knowledge and Engagement We’ve launched an initiative to help citizens better understand the basic principles and practic- es of government. It’s the best way to improve community engagement (voting, volunteerism, and awareness of current events). Voter registration drives alone don't cut it. Only 67% of Pierce County's eligible population is registered to vote. And, 14% of those registered voters never voted. Not once. Knowledge is proven to increase regard for America’s ideals and governmental principles. And that does lead to more voting, volunteerism, and awareness! Stay tuned. We’ll host a public summit on civic knowledge and engagement in November 2010 (after the General Election). Call or write to get involved. [email protected] or 253-798-3189. Play and Learn! To promote civic know-how and responsibility, we start with children. We’ve dedicated pages 6 and 7 of this Voters’ Pamphlet to kids. The content is geared for 5th through 8th graders. You can help. Flip through this Voters’ Pamphlet with a child, discuss the material, and play the games. Have young ones watch you mark your ballot at home. Or, take them to a polling place. Pierce Voters Get MORE When we heard that the state chose not to publish a Statewide Primary Voters’ Pamphlet, we were very concerned. The Voters’ Pamphlet is a critical resource. How can you make the best decisions if you don’t have information on all of the candidates and issues? We stepped up to fi ll the void. Our Pierce County Voters’ Pamphlet has it all. If it’s on your bal- lot, you’ll fi nd it in this pamphlet. If we had not done this, you would have missed information for 90 federal and state candidates. And, we restored candidate statements to their full length and asked candidates for more de- tailed biographies. Please Vote The Primary Election has a very low turnout. Last year, less than 20% of Pierce County voters cast a ballot. Participation is important. And, this is particularly important for a Top 2 Primary that will determine which candidates advance to the November General Election. Julie Anderson Pierce County Auditor 2 Table of Contents This pamphlet contains all races and issues that are on the ballot for this election. Your ballot will contain only the issues that you are eligible to vote on. See page 14 to see how to determine which district you reside in. Do you want to Vote-By-Mail? ......................................................................................................4 Not registered to vote? .................................................................................................................5 Play and learn! ........................................................................................................................ 6 - 7 Accessible voting locations .........................................................................................................8 Pierce County Election Center .....................................................................................................9 Ballot drop off locations ......................................................................................................10 - 11 Polling places ...................................................................................................................... 12 - 13 What can you vote on? ...............................................................................................................14 Pierce County congressional and legislative districts .............................................................15 Sample ballot .......................................................................................................................16 - 19 United States Senator ........................................................................................................ 20 - 34 United States congressional offi ces .................................................................................. 35 - 51 What is a Top 2 Primary? ............................................................................................................47 State Legislative district offi ces .........................................................................................52 - 81 Pierce County offi ces ..........................................................................................................82 - 91 Pierce County council districts ..................................................................................................83 Judicial offi ces .................................................................................................................... 92 - 99 City of Milton .............................................................................................................................100 Pierce County Fire District No. 2 ..............................................................................................101 Pierce County Fire District No. 16 ............................................................................................102 Pierce County Fire District No. 17 ............................................................................................103 Don't wait to mail your ballot until the last minute! Your ballot must be postmarked by August 17, 2010 to be counted. If you mail your ballot on Election Day, check the mail pick-up time to ensure it will be postmarked on time. You can drop off your ballot (see pages 10 - 11) or mail your ballot at anytime. 3 Do you want to Vote-By-Mail? If you don't already Vote-By-Mail, sign up today. • It’s easy. • It saves time and gas. • It’s safe and secure. Sweet! • You can vote in your bathrobe. Contact us to sign up: • [email protected] • piercecountywa.org/elections • Call the Elections Division at 253-798-VOTE or 800-446-4979. • Fill out the form below and send it in. It's that simple. Pierce County Vote-By-Mail Request Form Send to: Pierce County Election Center ❒ Permanent Request ❒ Primary Election Only 2501 S 35th St, Suite C Tacoma, WA 98409 Print Name As Registered Print Address Where You Live City or Town Zip Code Date of Birth Contact Phone Number Mailing Address Print Mailing Address City or Town State Zip Code X Signature of Applicant Date 4 NotRegistering registered to Vote to vote? To register to vote in the state of Washington, you must be: • A citizen of the United States. • A legal resident of Washington state. • At least 18 years old by election day. • Not under the authority of the Department of Corrections. How to register: • Online - 24 hours a day by visit- ing piercecountywa.org/elections. • In person - Pierce County Elec- tions Division, 2501 S 35th St, Suite C, Tacoma, WA 98409. • By mail - Call the Elections Divi- sion (253-798-VOTE) and we will mail you a form. Registration Deadlines: Primary Election • It's not too late to register in person for the Primary. In person deadline (New Washington voters only) August 9, 2010. General Election • Online or mail October 4, 2010. • In person deadline (New Washington voters only) October 25, 2010. 5 Play and Learn! Hey Kids! Are you quicker than your parents? Let's fi nd out! Go head to head with your parent or friend. See who can get the most answers correct! Crossword Challenge 1 Across 2. The election held to pick the 2 national, state and local offi cials who will lead the government 4. 3 4 5 The right to vote 7. A rule enforced by government 6 8. The formal choice either for or 7 against something 10. A person who makes laws for a district in a legislative body 8 9 Down 1. The fi rst round election where voters choose their favorite can- didate to run for offi ce during 10 the general election 3. A law maker representing a lo- cal district 5. To choose by voting 6. Where voted ballots are placed 9. One of several divided areas of a city, county or state Word Bank - Use these words to help you solve the Crossword Challenge Ballot drop box District General Election Primary Election Suffrage Council Member Elect Law Representative Vote 6 Play and Learn! Word Search Challenge CYOI PD I STR I CTPH Vote XO I HBQRY L SHPOHP OCUG I KMRQUUGXGR Elect BDLNJLTTRFVEKF I PQYECSSUI FDNDEM Suffrage OEMXI I KP I RYEEDA Ballot Drop box RH I DDQL I JATRECR DRSQOMLMTGCASBY District TVORPNLCEEDL EAE OPOPUYEREMQERWL Council Member LGUTTLCZMVBLPCE LPKDEJXNMSZEEVC Representative ACAYUOXX I ZWCROT BYDOPXWALJUTFPI Primary Election REPRESENTAT I VEO TU I I OPXAZCBOQWN General Election ASFGK I EQCZBNMKE Picture Find Challenge - Find these objects in this Voters' Pamphlet. Ballot drop box Mail box County candidate Our website address Candidate for Judge State candidate Elections Division Offi ce Seal Touch Screen Voting Machine Federal candidate U.S. Flag Map of Pierce County Ballot Note to Parents - Use these games as a tool to teach your kids how government works. Talk with them about why voting is important to you. Lay the groundwork for a life-long love of civic involvement. 7 Accessible Voting Locations Pierce County Election Center 2501 S 35th St, Suite C Tacoma, WA 98409 253-798-8683 (voice) 800-446-4979 (voice) 711 (TTY) Open July 28 through August 17, 2010, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. August 17, 2010, 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals Center for Independence