Franklin County voters should take advantage of a pilot program for online voting. They should also provide feedback to the Auditor's Office about their experience to smooth the way for future elections.
But let's back up for a minute.
"Online voting" is not really an accurate description of this project. In the state of Washington, we are not allowed to vote online -- yet.
With this project voters can mark an online ballot, but they still have to print it out and mail it in.
So why bother?
Because the electronic ballot won't let you mismark it (no hanging chads, no indecipherable smudges); because the online voters' guide includes video statements from the candidates and other fancy stuff; and because the more people who participate in the project and complete the survey, the easier it is to ride what looks like the wave of the future.
The project is funded by a $50,000 grant tied to making voting more accessible for people who are visually impaired. If you have the right software, your computer will actually read your ballot and the voters' guide to you.
Other advantages for this kind of voting is military and absentee ballots. And if it was in widespread use it would save a ton of money on printing materials. The Franklin County voter's pamphlet is 186 pages this year.
Only 67 people gave the program a test run in the primary elections. Auditor Zona Lenhart is hoping for more participation in the general.
So how do you do it? Well, inside your regular ballot you will get a piece of paper with a code on it that identifies which precinct you live in. It doesn't identify you or your computer.
You log on to www.franklin
vote.com and enter your ballot code. You mark your ballot -- watching the videos if you like -- hit the print key and let your printer spit out your ballot.
From there it's just like traditional mail-in voting. Put the ballot in the privacy envelope, sign the back of the purple envelope and drop it in the mail or a drop box.
And no, you can't vote more than once.
If you live in Franklin County, give it a try. You will be setting precedent. And be sure to fill out the voter survey to help refine the process.
Similar stories:
Voters to decide local offices, issues today
Voters to decide local offices, issues today
Election Day is here.
So if you have not yet made your vote count, dig out that unopened ballot, fill it in and drop the sealed envelope in a mailbox or one of several drop box sites in Franklin and Benton counties.
Eligible voters should have received a ballot in the mail at least 20 days ago.
Make vote count
Make vote count
It's OK to be an armchair referee when watching football. But don't be one when it comes to participating in government and politics. As we've seen in past elections, every single vote does count and does make a difference.
You don't have to run for office or even campaign to make a difference. What do you have to do? Register to vote or if you have moved within the county, make sure the auditor has your new address.
Become informed. Fill out and return your ballot! Washington residents have until Oct. 10 to register online or by mail to vote in the general election (www.vote.wa.gov) and if you'd like to register in person, you have until Oct. 31 at the county auditor's offices. Anyone who will be 18 by election day, Nov. 8, can register ahead of time.
New ballot drop box in north Franklin County
New ballot drop box in north Franklin County
North Franklin County voters can save a stamp and cast their ballots at a new drop box location in Connell.
The new location is at the Franklin County PUD branch, 104 E Adams St, in Connell. Ballot drop boxes will be open 20 days prior to each election in coordination with mail out of the ballots.
For the upcoming general election, the site will open Tuesday.
Voter turnout lagging as Tri-Cities levy balloting deadline nears
Voter turnout lagging as Tri-Cities levy balloting deadline nears
School officials in the Tri-Cities are asking voters to get their ballots for Tuesday's special election in a dropbox or mailbox soon and not leave them to the last minute.
Voter turnout in Franklin and Benton counties for Tuesday's special election is down slightly compared to a similar election two years ago. The lower returns concern some Tri-City school officials, who are looking to voters to renew a number of expiring operations levies.
Elections officials said the decline isn't significant, and they expect to hit the same level of voter turnout as past elections.
Pasco school levy: Yes
Pasco school levy: Yes
As the levy committee chairman for Pasco Citizens for Better Schools, I am writing in support of the Pasco School District.
You can show your support to the employees and students it serves by voting "Yes" in the levy election on Feb. 14. Ballots were mailed to registered voters last week. Voter registration is available up to Feb. 6.
The levy is a replacement tax -- not a new tax. There are matching funds provided by the state called "levy equalization dollars." We are able to receive these funds only if the levy passes. These funds make up about 22 percent of the school district's budget for operations to educate and grow our students into taxpaying citizens.
Print
Email Story
