article by Maureen McKinney
The Mid-Term General Election November 3rd is just weeks away! As an American, it is not only your right to vote, it is your privilege! It is your chance to have your say on issues that matter to you and candidates that will represent you.
Washington State has had mail-in voting in some form since 1983. In 2005, it was expanded to all elections, but counties were given the option to opt out – only one did. Then in 2011, the Washington State Legislature made it statewide, for all elections. I don’t know about you, but I do not miss for one minute standing in line, waiting my turn, then feeling rushed once in the booth to hurry up! There are people waiting! Working people, the elderly, those living far from polling places, and those with small children often found carving out the time was difficult, if not impossible. I have enjoyed over the last decades being able to sit at my kitchen table or computer, read the voter’s pamphlet, go online and read from trusted non-partisan groups, such as the League of Women Voter’s Voters Guide.
Sadly, there have been recent efforts made (and more attempted) to restrict and constrain our voting rights. Everything from gerrymandering districts to attempts to eliminate mail-in voting to trying to force the USPS to slow-roll or block ballots. This is being done under the false claims of “voter fraud” supposedly to remove non-citizens from the voter rolls, when that is an unsubstantiated problem based on no real data. More likely, the goal is to restrict the voting rights of people of color and women. Thankfully the Supreme Court has shot down the President’s latest attempts to restrict voting by mail.
Ballots are being mailed October 13th. Please be sure you complete and mail your ballot as soon as it is received. Better yet, to avoid any lingering issues with the Post Office, use a ballot drop box! Our local League of Women voters did a test recently and found that it can take up to 10 days for a piece of mail to be postmarked (let alone delivered), as our local mail does a tour of the state through Yakima and Spokane before it is postmarked. Drop Box locations can be found at VoteWA.gov and here: https://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/auditor/elections/default.aspx
While waiting for your ballot to arrive, check your voting registration at Vote411.org. Once you have voted, you can follow your ballot through the receipt and counting process there as well. The voting process in our State has always been efficient, safe and transparent. Please use your right – your privilege – and vote early!!
Co-published by Ellensburg Daily Record Newspaper on September 26, 2026. Maureen McKinney helps chair Communications/Outreach for the League of Women Voters Kittitas County. She is retired and lives in the Manastash Canyon with her dog Belle. Living with wildlife (except for one rogue turkey!) in our beautiful county is her happy place.