Voting and elections forum focus

MOUNT VERNON – Sixteen hardy souls braved the coldest evening of the year to date to get a civics lesson most avoid in the balmiest of weather. Skagit County Election Supervisor David Cunningham, supported by his boss, Auditor Sandy Perkins, spoke Monday at a Skagit County League of Women Voters forum. “Education on 2020 Elections” in Mount Vernon.

In introducing Cunningham, League President Wende Sanderson noted his 25 years of experience and respected reputation among his peers and voting enthusiasts.

Cunningham discussed past and future voter turnout, the steps and processes a ballot takes from your casting it till they count it and, most importantly the March 10 presidential primary

Warning his audience that the primary structure is complicated, Cunningham explained the election is for voters who want to affiliate as Democratic or Republican and vote to send delegates to their national conventions.

The ballot has language and boxes to check for political party. One of those boxes must be checked for the vote to count.

This does not make a person a party member but creates lists the parties use for campaigning and fundraising.

The March presidential primary election has one purpose and is different from August primary elections prescribed by state law.

County voter turnout in the last three presidential elections was at or above 80%, as good as anywhere in the country Cunningham said, as people came to vote for or against Barak Obama. In 2012, 85% voted. That dropped to 80% in 2016. Last fall’s local elections saw 50.1% vote.

Votes are not counted if they arrive late, have questionable signatures that cannot be verified or are unsigned, three human errors. Mailing ballots five days ahead makes it likely the postmark stamped in Seattle will be timely. Postal staff hand cancelling ballots the day of or before the election is critical.

Same day registration allows registering and voting till the last minute with valid identification art the Mount Vernon election office.

If you have not voted in the last four presidential elections, you are dropped from the voter rolls and have to register warned Britt Wisniewski, a League volunteer.

County staff endorse the Secretary of State’s website for all things electoral.

Today is 55 days till election day. Ballots will be mailed Feb. 21 to all voters.