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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 |
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Do I know enough to vote?
How do I makemy voice heard?
In a democracy, people are the ultimate source of power. Aswe’ve described
above, citizens in this country elect the president and vice president,
Congress, and state and local government officials. Butwith the power to
elect all of our leaders comes responsibility. Tomake the best use of your
votingpower, youneed to educate yourself before youmarkyour ballots.
MAKE A CANDIDATE
REPORT CARD.
List the qualities youwouldwant in
a candidate (examples: experience,
honesty). List the issues you
believe aremost important (health
care, terrorism, education, taxes).
Then rate the candidates on their
leadershipqualities and onhow
closely their viewsmatchyours.
TAKE ACAREFUL, CRITICAL
LOOKAT CAMPAIGN LITERATURE
FOR EACH SIDE.
Does it provide substantive
information about the candidates’
stands on issues and their
qualifications? Is it designed to
appeal to your emotions, or does
it offer specific facts and truthful
information?
LEARNHOWOTHER PEOPLE
VIEW THE CANDIDATE.
Check endorsements and ratings;
are they from an organizationyou
can trust?
RATE THE CANDIDATES ON
HOW THEY CAMPAIGN.
Are they open andhonest?Do they
answer questions or evade them?
Do they talk about issues or do they
just try to stir upyour emotions?
EXAMINE THE CANDIDATE’S
CAMPAIGN FINANCES.
Is the candidate usingpersonal
funds?Getting large donations
from a fewpeople or from
corporations or small donations
frommanypeople?Are political
action committees (PACs) andSuper
PACs, groups formed to raise and
distributemoney, playing a big
role? Is the candidate open about
who is funding the campaign?
LOOK FOR RELIABLE SOURCES
OF INFORMATION.
Check outwebsites run by
nonpartisanpolitical organizations
such as the League ofWomen
Voters. Consult newspapers and
othermedia. Checkwith the
political parties. Bygoing to a
variety of sources, you’ll have
a broader andmore reliable
perspective.
THE LEAGUE OFWOMEN VOTERS OFFER THESE TIPS TOHELP:
Looking
for more
action? Do
something!
Now that youhave the tools
tomake an informed choice -
• Talk to your friends,
classmates and co-workers
about how they can learn
more andparticipate.
• Share news andyour opinion
on socialmedia.
• Ask toughquestions at
meetings and rallies, and of
campaignworkers.
• Write letters, send emails or
blog— and let candidates,
newspapers andparty
leaders knowhowyou feel
about issues.
• Volunteer for a candidate–
use your talents tohelp
elect your favorite one, issue
campaigns need supporters
aswell.
• If you see unfair campaign
practices, speak out.
• Encourage peoplewho say
theydon’t know enough to
vote to learnmore and vote!
Mail-in
ballot tips
• Read the ballot, envelope and voters’
pamphlet carefully.
• Sign the declaration on the back of the
return envelope.
• Do not put multiple ballots in one envelope.
• Vote early, so therewill be time towork out
any problems.
• Consider every item on the ballot. If you
are not familiar with the candidates or the
ballot issue, youwill still have time to do
some research. Note that if, after working
hard to understand everything on the ballot,
you are still uncomfortablewith voting for a
candidate in a race, you do not have to. You
can leave that choice empty andmove on
to the next.
• If mailing your ballot onElectionDay, check
the pickup times to avoidmissing the last
pickup.
• Mailing a ballot requires a first-class stamp.
To return your ballot without a stamp, use
a dropbox. For drop box locations, look up
elections offices at
• For short how-to videos, go to
• Lost or damaged ballot? Questions? Look up
elections offices outside of King County at
WEBSITE DIRECTORY
• The League of Women Voters’ nonpartisan
resource for election and voting information:
• C-SPAN’s campaignweb page:
• Nonpartisan site that checks the accuracy
of political ads and allegations:
• Government agency that regulates
campaign finance:
• League of WomenVoters:
(state),
(national)
• The Center for Responsive Politics –
nonpartisan site onmoney inU.S. elections:
• Nonpartisan resource on trends inpublic
opinion:
• Nonpartisan resource for judicial elections
inWashington state:
Rock the vote!
PLEDGE TO VOTE!
Every votematters.Many elections
have beendecided only after
recounts, with small numbers of
votesmaking a bigdifference. Pledge
to vote this year and everyyear!
BALLOTS
General Election ballotswill be
mailed to allWashington state voters
beginning18days prior to election
day –and should arrive on or shortly
afterOctober 21. Ballotsmay be
returned any time throughElection
Day, November 8, bymail or in a
drop box. Ballot drop boxes close at
8p.m. onElectionDay. If you are not
currently registered inWashington
state, you can still register as late
asOctober 31, inperson. Find the
location at:
ELECTION2016: YOURCRITICALROLE IN THEELECTIONPROCESS
