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How to vote your voice!

Washington State Voting Legislation directly affecting youth:

The future voter program: Starting July 1st 2019, new legislation allows 16 and 17 years old to sign up as prospective voters and be automatically registered to vote when they turn 18. This can be done when applying for driver’s license or online.

New in 2022: A voter who turns 18 between the August primary and the November general election can vote in primary.

What happens when you move to college or join the military? Your residential address determines your ballot content. You can mail your ballot from anywhere globally but your residential address determines which State you can vote in. You may choose to receive your ballot at your permanent residence even after you move.

You may not vote in more than one State.

How to Influence Change

  • Attend Neighborhood Association meetings

  • Join a club with a cause or legislative agenda (Sierra Club, Cascade Bike Club)

  • Volunteer to assist in a campaign- doorbell, phone bank

  • Attend political forums and ask questions of the candidates

  • Testify on state legislation

  • Make public comment at local council meetings

  • Encourage your friends to vote and explain why it is important

Registration

WA State does not require a party affiliation to be declared upon registration.

  • If you moved from your original residency, you may vote as an absentee or change your permanent address to vote from your current location. You cannot vote in two different states.
  • The links below are your direct registration forms to either update residency or vote as an absentee.

https://www.vote.org/register-to-vote/

https://www.vote.org/absentee-ballot/

  • Students with scholarships or tuition that require residency should check with their financial aid office before registering to vote back home. For example, if you have a scholarship that requires California residency, you should ensure that registering to vote in a different state will not affect your status.
  • You must be a resident of Washington State.
  • You must establish your voting residency address at least 30 days before Election Day. You may specify a mailing address that is different from your residential address.
  • If you move or are temporarily away, you may maintain your voter registration at that address until you register to vote elsewhere.
  • If you have a nontraditional address, such as a motor home or transitional housing, your voting residence is the physical location at the time you register to vote. You may list a different address for your mailing address.
  • If you are a United States citizen living abroad, you may use your last Washington address. If you have never lived in the country, you may use the last address of your parents or other family member.

Even if you are living outside of Washington State, you will retain your residency if you are:

  • employed in the civil or military service of the state or of the United States;
  • living overseas;
  • attending college or any institution of learning; or
  • confined in any public prison.

You may maintain your voter registration in Washington State until you register to vote elsewhere.

How to Contact Your Elected Officials

Local

Lynne Robinson, Mayor
lrobinson@bellevuewa.gov

Jared Nieuwenhuis, Councilmember
jnieuwenhuis@bellevuewa.gov

Conrad Lee, Councilmember
clee@bellevuewa.gov

Dave Hamilton, Councilmember
Dhamilton@bellevuewa.gov

Mo Malakoutian, Deputy Mayor
Mmalakoutian@bellevuewa.gov

John Stokes, Councilmember
jstokes@bellevuewa.gov

Janice Zahn, Councilmember
jzahn@bellevuewa.gov

County

Dow Constantine, Executive
kcexec@kingcounty.gov

Claudia Balducci, District 6 Councilmember
claudia.balducci@kingcounty.gov

Reagan Dunn, District 9 Councilmember
reagan.dunn@kingcounty.gov

State

Governor Jay Inslee
contact form here

Lisa Wellman, 41st LD Senator
lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov

Tana Senn, 41st LD Representative
tana.senn@leg.wa.gov

My-Linh Thai, 41st LD Representative
my-linh.thai@leg.wa.gov

Patty Kuderer, 48th LD Senator
patty.kuderer@leg.wa.gov

Vandana Slatter, 48th LD Representative
vandana.slatter@leg.wa.gov

Amy Walen, 48th LD Representative
amy.walen@leg.wa.gov

Federal

President Joe Biden
contact form here

Senator Patty Murray
contact form here

Senator Maria Cantwell
contact form here

Representative Adam Smith
contact form here

Who Are My Elected Officials?

  • City of Bellevue: 7 at large seats with councilmembers serving 4 year terms, elections staggered every 2 years
  • Bellevue School Board: 5 board members elected to represent each of 5 different districts
  • King County: 1 seat in each of 2 county districts in Bellevue, each council member serving a 4 year term
  • There is also an executive elected county-wide
  • State Legislature: Bellevue is comprised of 2 state districts (41st and 48th) with 1 Senator and 2 House Representatives each. House terms are 2 years. Senate terms are 4 years.
  • WA Governor: The Governor is the chief executive of the state, they serve 4 year terms.
  • US Congress: Every resident of WA State has three total Congressional Representatives
    • 2 Senators who each represent the entire state. Terms are 6 years.
    • Bellevue is comprised of 2 federal districts (8th and 9th and, soon to have a 3rd (1st district) due to redistricting). Each district has 1 Congressman/woman in the House. Terms are 2 years.
  • President: The President is the chief executive of the United States, they serve 4 year terms.
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