Ballots for the state’s 2020 presidential primary election went out last week. All ballots must be returned to a local drop box or postmarked by March 10 to count. You can verify or update your voter registration status here and can register in-person through Election Day.
Whitman County Auditor Sandy Jamison put out a brief statement last week to explain some of the changes to the primary system this year, including the switch to voting earlier in the year.
“It’s a move designed to make Washington, a frequently overlooked state with just 12 electoral votes, more relevant in the nominating process,” she wrote. “Washington voters need their votes to actually ‘count’ with regard to determining the top presidential candidate ‘vote-getter’ in each party.”
These two Seattle Times stories outline more about why political parties have changed their primary process and the state’s history of “beauty contest” primary elections. The Republican Party primary has only one candidate this year, the president, but you can read more below about the party’s caucus scheduled for this Saturday.
Many voters throughout the state have wondered about exactly how the primary ballot works and why they must declare a specific political party affiliation in order to participate. Here are a few quick takeaways:
- You can only vote for one candidate on the ballot and it must align with the party on your declaration.
- You must declare a party to participate in the primary. Ballots without declarations will not be counted, including apparently the secretary of state’s own ballot.
- Your listed party affiliation will be a matter of public record for 60 days following the election and will likely be scooped up by the political parties and other requestors for campaign research.
- Your actual vote on a specific candidate will not ever be public — only whether you voted at all and the party affiliation.
- Your primary vote or party affiliation has no impact on which candidate or party you may vote for in the General Election.
The Secretary of State’s office has a graphic explainer on primary voting and an FAQ page with information on key deadlines. Here’s the Seattle Times primary voting guide. Crosscut has also put together a thorough FAQ page on the primary with clarifications on the delegate process and other issues. KING 5 also has a video explainer on the election.
The Republican Caucus
The Whitman County GOP plans to hold two local caucuses starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. A north county caucus will be held in the Public Services Building in Colfax and a south county caucus will be held at the Colton Gun Club.
Registered members of the Republican Party will meet to elect delegates to the county convention on March 28, which will determine delegates for the state’s convention.
“At the conclusion of the election of delegates and alternates, all caucus attendees will discuss proposed changes to the Whitman County Republican Party Platform,” the event listing states. “Once consensus is reached, the proposed changes are forwarded to the Convention Platform Committee for discussion and voting at the Whitman County Republican Convention.”
Read more details about the process in a Washington state 2020 Republican Party caucus manual posted online.