Voting in 2026

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Prepared by Karen Fraser

(This is an occasional article that relates the Congregation of St. Benedict Episcopal Church relationship to the Parish of Lacey)

We all know how absolutely fundamental voting is in our country.  

  • It assures that “we the people” have influence over the values and priorities of each level of government.

  • It assures we each have a voice in who our public leaders will be.  

  • Through voting, we are basically setting the table for how our government will prioritize and organize and how it will treat the public.

 
The US Constitution states that the right to vote applies to all citizens ages 18 and over.  
 
In the State of Washington, registering to vote can take place up to and including Election Day.  So, if you know someone who is not registered, there is still time for them to do so.
More information on this is below.

The General Election this year will be on Tuesday, November 3---not many days away. Everyone is encouraged to vote---to register your values and opinions.
 
On the ballot will be:

  • Members of the US House of Representatives

  • Members of the Washington State Legislature

  • Five State Supreme Court Justices, serving statewide

  • One State Court of Appeals Judge, serving our region of the state

  • One District Court Judge, serving Thurston County

  • Two Thurston County Commissioners

  • Seven Thurston County elected officials who are department heads for:  Sheriff, Auditor, Treasurer, Assessor, Clerk, Coroner, Prosecuting Attorney  

  • Two Thurston County Public Utility District Commissioners.  The PUD manages a variety of drinking water systems.

  • Three initiatives for the people, containing proposals for state policies,

The text, summaries, fiscal impact statements, and arguments for and against each, written by committees and not the Secretary of State, are in the Voters’ Pamphlet.

  • One local ballot measure about libraries.

  • A Lacey Fire District bond measure, to be voted on by residents of the District only.

 
Information on all these ballot measures is in the Voters’ Pamphlet.
 
In Washington, we vote by mail. This makes voting easily accessible and convenient for everyone. You can take whatever time you need to consider each candidate and ballot measure.
 
Everyone should have received their ballot by now, and your Voter Pamphlet. 
 
It’s exceptionally important to be attentive to turning your ballot in on time so it can be counted.  If it is even one minute late, it will not be counted.
 
The absolute deadline is 8 pm, Tuesday, November. 3. It’s soon!
 
There are three ways to ensure your ballot gets in on time:

  • Totally reliable:  Drop it in a Ballot Drop Box any time between now and 8 pm on Tuesday, Nov 3.  A list of all locations is in the envelope your ballot came in, on yellow paper.

  • Totally reliable, should you choose to do it, is to vote in person at the Thurston County Auditor’s Office before 8 pm, on Tuesday, November 3.  Address is:  3000 Pacific Avenue SE, Olympia, 98501.

  • Less reliable, I’m sorry to say, is to put it in the postal mail.  The challenge with turning in your ballot via the US Postal Service is that it must be postmarked by 8 pm on November 3 to be counted.  


There is no guarantee that if you drop your ballot in the mail on Election Day, or a few days before, it will be postmarked on or before 8 pm on November 3.  
 
This is because the speed at which mail is currently being processed is often slower than it used to be.  This is due to cost-cutting measures taking place in the Postal Service.  These are affecting mail pick-up, sorting, and delivery.
  
Thus, the closer to election day that you put your ballot in the mail, the greater the risk your ballot might be affected by delays and not arrive at the County Election Headquarters on time to be counted.       
 
Therefore, this year, state and county election officials are strongly urging people to cast their votes by placing their ballots in Ballot Drop Boxes, rather than sending them through the mail.   
 
Placing your ballot in a Ballot Drop Box assures it will arrive at the County Election Headquarters in time to be counted.
 
Again, there is a list of locations of Ballot Drop Boxes in your ballot envelope.  
 
You can register to vote up to 8 pm, November 3
In Washington State, you can register to vote until the polls close.  Here’s how:

  1. To register online, go to Vote WA.gov for information on how to do it.

  2. To register by mail, print a form on Vote WA.gov, fill it out, and mail it to the Thurston County Elections Office.  Must arrive by October 26.  If you think you might miss this deadline, deliver it in person to the Thurston County Auditor’s Office at 3000 Pacific Avenue SE, Olympia, 98501.

  3. To register in person, go to the Thurston County Auditor’s Office before 8 pm, November 3.  Address:  3000 Pacific Avenue SE, Olympia  98501

 
A couple of other information points about ballots.

  • Some people worry that ballot counting might be tampered with by “outside parties.”

This cannot happen.  In Thurston County and throughout the country, NO BALLOT COUNTING IS DONE ON THE INTERNET.  It is always separate and self-contained.

  • You can watch ballot processing yourself.  Go to the county ballot processing center in the Mottman Industrial Park in Tumwater. They will gladly welcome you.  

To Summarize:

  • Be sure to vote before Tuesday, November 3, at 8 pm

  • I encourage you to vote by placing your ballot in a Ballot Drop Box.

 I’d be happy to chat with anyone about election procedures at Coffee.