This about elections, not politics. (Good luck separating the two.) Dull (but is it ever, really) but essential (always), voting on Whidbey Island is a bit different than some other places in the US. “Washington State votes by mail.” After living here for a while it can be a surprise that it’s done any other way. Voting by mail has been happening in Washington State for decades.

Get the packet in the mail, find a convenient time, probably open the online voter’s guide, take as long as you want to fill in the appropriate boxes, sign and seal as per instructions, mail it in, and get back to the rest of your life. Don’t want to mail it? There are drop boxes for that, too.

This post is inspired by the approaching primary on August 4th. (Check the list of deadlines at https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/dates-and-deadlines.aspx .) The deadline to register to vote in the general election is October 26th (8 days before the election), and the general election for 2020 is November 3rd. Haven’t registered by then? It is still possible to register in-person until November 3rd, but checking with the County before that may be a good idea. “In-person” has not been as simple this year. Who knows what will be happening by the beginning of November. (A good reason to register early, if you haven’t already done so.)

Thanks for voting.