Ballots are out for the Presidential Primary in Washington. Some facts you may be interested in from the Secretary of State’s office. See answers to questions below:

Legislative Town Halls Saturday Feb 22nd

Rep Van Werven to hold town hall meeting:

Where: Meridian High School 194 W Laurel Rd.

When: Saturday February 22nd 10:00AM to 11:30AM

Rep. Shewmake to hold Town Hall Meeting:

Where: Whatcom Community College’s Heiner Theater

When: February 22nd 1:00 to 3:30 PM

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY MARCH 10TH

1.What is the Presidential Primary?: The 2020 Presidential Primary is a chance to participate in the nomination process for the office of US President. It was first created in 1989 through a citizens’ Initiative to the Legislature to include more voters in the process. This is the only election in which Washington’s voters are required to mark and sign party declarations written by the major political parties. Every registered voter receives a mailed ballot packet after February 21

2.Why do I need to mark a party box?: For the March 10 Presidential Primary only, the major political parties require voters to choose a party in order to participate in the nomination process. Your choice of party will not affect how you may vote in future elections. You must mark and sign the political party declaration (box) on your envelope for your vote to count per  RCW 29A.56.050. 

Each major party wrote its declaration and provided wording to the Secretary of State’s Office for ballot materials. Attempts to change the party declaration could result in your ballot not being counted.

  • Democratic Party Declaration: I declare that my party preference is the Democratic Party and I will not participate in the nomination process of any other political party for the 2020 Presidential election.
  • Republican Party Declaration: I declare that I am a Republican and I have not participated and will not participate in the 2020 precinct caucus or convention system of any other party.

In the November General Election, you will not declare a party and may vote for any Presidential candidate you wish.

3. Can I vote for a candidate from each political party? No. Your ballot is divided into 2 sides: Democratic Party (blue) and Republican Party (red). For your vote to count, you must vote for one candidate from the political party you marked on your envelope. If you vote both sides of the ballot, or the opposite side of the ballot, your vote will not count. Ballots are mailed February 21.

4. Can I participate in both the Presidential Primary and a caucus? Yes. Voters may participate in political party caucuses and the Presidential Primary, but only on behalf of the same party. Every voter participating in the Presidential Primary must sign a party declaration stating that the voter has not participated in the other party’s caucus process. Per state law, each party receives a list of voters who chose to affiliate with that party in the Presidential Primary only. 

See the rest of the questions on the Secretary of State’s site here.

What’s happening with Caucus’s this Presidential Cycle.

In the past both parties in the State of Washington would have precinct caucus’s at this point in the year of a Presidential Election.

Each party generally the Democrats and Republicans would hold Precinct “meetings” (the registered voters who declared for a party in that physical precinct) would elect delegates and alternates to a county convention and at the county conventions; would elect delegates to a state convention; which in turn would elect delegates to the National Convention.

This year the State has a Presidential Primary and the parties have different tacts on what they wish to do.

Republicans:

The Republicans are following a traditional approach for their delegates to the National Convention:

February 29th will see Precinct Caucus’s electing delegates and alternates to a County Convention.. You can click here to see where you fit into the process; and if a Republican; where you go to Caucus in Whatcom or other counties. http://wsrp.org/caucus/

On March 28th Whatcom County will have a County Convention at Meridian High School 194 W Laurel Bellingham WA 98226

And on May 14th to the 16th the State Convention will be in Everett

For more information on the process for Republicans click here

Democrats:

For the first time the Democrats will not hold Precinct Caucus’s locally but will allow candidates for delegate to file their intention and then go through a series of votes at the Legislative District and Congressional District level and have their state convention June 12th to 14th to finalize delegates and alternates to the National Convention. Their timeline is here.