Candidates’ signs raise stakes, then linger as litter
November 6, 2012
A cluster of political signs on the road shoulder vie for motorists’ attention Nov. 1 at the corner of Northwest Gilman Boulevard and state Route 900. By Greg Farrar
The emerald strip in the center of Northwest Gilman Boulevard is prime real estate for political signs, a landscaped median exposed to thousands of vehicles each day.
Unfortunately for candidates, city code prohibits campaign operatives from turning the median — and others around Issaquah — into a politician’s paradise in the run-up to Election Day.
Some passers-by regard political signs as litter, just another piece of detritus from a long and acrimonious campaign season. Others see the placards as grassroots organizing at the actual grassroots, a First Amendment affirmation.
Michele Forkner, code compliance officer for the city, treats the signs as a necessary but messy task.
Off the Press
November 6, 2012
Political ads turn downright scary
Kathleen R. Merrill
Press managing editor
Last week, there was one day that I was literally sick to my stomach. No, not because I ate too much Halloween candy. Instead, it was because of all of the hate and ugliness in political ads.
Oh yeah. You know the ones I’m talking about:
“If he’s elected, my opponent will make sure you lose your house, and your kids go hungry and your dog dies.”
“My opponent is not who he says he is. He’s a big, fat liar.”
“My opponent has an autographed picture of Osama bin Laden on his desk.”
“My opponent has not been honest with the American people.”
“My opponent eats puppies for breakfast and drowns kittens on weekends.”
King County to include 520,000 ballots in initial tally
November 6, 2012
NEW — 5:30 p.m. Nov. 6, 2012
King County Elections officials said the initial tally released at about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday should include at least 520,000 ballots.
In the all-mail election, voters can return ballots to designated drop boxes by 8 p.m. The elections office opened a drop box at Issaquah City Hall, 130 E. Sunset Way.
Otherwise, ballots must receive a Nov. 6 postmark.
The initial release from King County Elections is the only update for Tuesday.
The elections office plans to release the next round of results by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, and then on subsequent weekdays until the election is certified Nov. 27. Voters can resolve ballot signature issues until Nov. 26.
King County Elections opens accessible voting centers
November 6, 2012
NEW — 8 a.m. Nov. 6, 2012
King County Elections opened additional accessible voting centers to enable voters with disabilities to cast a private and independent ballot.
Officials said voting by mail is the easiest and most accessible choice for many people, but some voters have difficulty filling out mail ballots. The accessible voting centers provide voters the opportunity to vote on touchscreen accessible voting units. The units also offer specialized equipment such as audio and large and high-contrast text options.
The closest accessible voting center to Issaquah is at Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave. N.E. Other locations include Green River Community College, North Seattle Community College and Seattle Union Station, plus the elections office in Renton.
The centers open at 7 a.m. and remain open until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Pragmatism defines Issaquah, Eastside voters
October 30, 2012
Local voters could choose a Democrat for the White House, a Republican for the Governor’s Mansion and split legislative seats between the parties.
Experts said voters in Issaquah and the Eastside prefer a brand of politics anchored in pragmatism, rather than party. The effort to appeal to moderate voters is intense as candidates scrounge for votes in the last days before Election Day.
“Democrats and Republicans both get elected there. I think of it as a pragmatic, rather than ideological, sort of politics, which is what Washington state used to be known for,” independent Seattle pollster Stuart Elway said. “I think the state as a whole has gotten more partisan, as the country has, and the party lines seem to have gotten harder.”
Some voters receive two ballots due to registration changes
October 30, 2012
King County Elections officials said as many as 10,000 voters received two ballots due to recent changes in voter information and registration.
Some voters received two ballots for the Nov. 6 election because they changed their information not long before the elections office mailed ballots.
Officials said affected voters should receive a suspended ballot and a ballot with their updated information.
King County Elections launches mobile tools
October 30, 2012
King County Elections rolled out tools for mobile devices, including a countdown clock, to help voters find the nearest ballot box and see how much time they have to return ballots.
Find the mobile tools at https://electionsdata.kingcounty.gov. The website is tailored for display on smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.
The portal includes a ballot drop box map and results, in addition to the election countdown clock. Users can also link to the full King County Elections website to create a customized voters’ pamphlet.
Election Day is Nov. 6, and voters must postmark or return ballots to drop boxes by 8 p.m.
Issaquah students cast ballots in mock elections
October 30, 2012
The minimum age to vote is 18, but the hurdle did not stop students throughout the Issaquah School District from casting ballots in the tight races for president and governor.
Educators on local campuses organized mock elections or joined the annual Student Mock Election overseen by the state elections office to educate students about the importance of participation in the political process.
Students at Issaquah and Tiger Mountain Community high schools, Issaquah Middle School, and Creekside, Endeavour and Sunny Hills elementary schools cast ballots in ersatz elections or plan to do so by the actual Election Day, Nov. 6.
Teachers involved in the mock elections said the exercise is about more than determining whether students support Jay Inslee or Rob McKenna for governor.
Student Mock Election asks for future voters’ opinions
October 25, 2012
NEW — 9 a.m. Oct. 25, 2012
The minimum age to vote is 18, but the hurdle did not stop students throughout the Issaquah School District from casting ballots in the tight races for president and governor.
Educators on local campuses organized mock elections or joined the annual Student Mock Election overseen by the state elections office to educate students about the importance of participation in the political process.
Students at Issaquah and Tiger Mountain Community high schools, Issaquah Middle School, and Creekside, Endeavour and Sunny Hills elementary schools cast ballots in ersatz elections or plan to do so by the actual Election Day, Nov. 6.
Teachers involved in the mock elections said the exercise is about more than determining whether students support Jay Inslee or Rob McKenna for governor.
Legislative candidates focus on education at forum
October 23, 2012
Candidates staked moderate positions and touted the importance of education as the contenders for offices to represent Issaquah in Olympia gathered for a candidate forum Oct. 18.
Education emerged as the signature theme in the races to represent local constituents in the state Senate and state House of Representatives. Candidates also tackled issues related to taxation, transportation, land use and — as lawmakers prepare for more budget cuts next year — government spending.
