ELECTION 2024: Presidential primary voting deadline Tuesday

If you plan to vote in our state’s presidential primary, tomorrow (Tuesday, March 12) is the deadline. As with other elections, you either need to ensure your ballot has a USPS postmark no later than tomorrow, or put it in a King County Elections dropbox by 8 pm Tuesday (West Seattle has three, plus there’s one each in White Center and South Park). If you haven’t voted in a Washington state presidential primary before, note that it’s unique in one factor: You have to declare a party, and then vote on that party’s section of the ballot, for your vote to count. (Your party choice will remain on the record for 60 days.) And yes, as has been pointed out previously, the ballot contains some candidates who’ve withdrawn – each party had to finalize its list by January 9 as part of the ballot-printing process. These and other questions are addressed in the FAQ on the Washington Secretary of State website. It even includes past presidential-primary turnout stats (49 percent four years ago) and current ballot-return stats (23 percent as of last Friday).

Jeff March 11, 2024 (2:39 pm)

Putting “CEASE FIRE” in instead of Biden. I encourage others to do the same.

helpermonkey March 11, 2024 (3:20 pm)

stunt voting while our democracy is literally at stake. seriously??
- Daniel March 11, 2024 (5:16 pm)
  
  It’s not stunt voting during the primary, due to the way the primaries work. It largely doesn’t affect anything because both Biden and Trump have a 100% chance of making it through to the general election. If you do it again during the general election, then it’s different (except maybe not in WA specifically where you probably wouldn’t have enough people to make a difference).
Michelle S. March 11, 2024 (6:08 pm)

Don’t do that, your vote will not be counted.Select “uncommitted.”
Lauren March 11, 2024 (7:08 pm)

Jeff, selecting “uncommitted delegates” sends that message: https://www.uncommittedwa.org/
Marty March 11, 2024 (7:41 pm)

Voting uncommitted sends a better message…it will have more of an impact. I too was going to write in Ceasefire but decided to do uncommitted.

Is there a point March 11, 2024 (2:50 pm)

Is there even a point to dropping off your ballot considering the two candidates are already set? The only thing I can think of is voting as a sign of protest against the two choices.

JS March 11, 2024 (6:49 pm)

I think it’s also used to get a count on how many Reps and Dems live in the area

Admiral-2009 March 11, 2024 (3:33 pm)

Can we please have another option!

Trump Fan March 11, 2024 (3:41 pm)

Looking forward to watching President Trump get over the 1251 delegate threshold tomorrow night. #TRUMP2024 🇺🇸

Derp March 11, 2024 (4:40 pm)

So to you, it doesn’t matter as to the charges, convictions, how much money he has to pay this week. You will still vote for this convicted rapists, fraud…. etc
- Trump Fan March 11, 2024 (5:59 pm)
  
  “Convicted” by hyper-partisan prosecutors to prevent him from running, but it didn’t work. He’s ahead of Biden in every poll as most voters know it’s all politically motivated. I feel bad for Democrats because look who you have to support: an incompetent war monger who has steered the U.S. into the jagged rocks. We all deserve so much better.
  - Derp March 11, 2024 (6:49 pm)
    
    It is a conviction, no matter how you spin it. What do you mean it didn’t work. $355 m + judgement. $90 + m for rape. And they aren’t done yet. January 6th failed over throw. War monger, that’s funny since Trump couldn’t and wouldn’t do anything. The foreign leaders do not like Trump, and they don’t want his medling.It said a lot about a person if this doesn’t matter to you. Good luck if the dictator is elected, jailed
  - Info March 11, 2024 (11:59 pm)
    
    Trump ain’t a warmonger? guess we should look away from Qasem
    Soleimani and how they were assassinated by a foreign government while
    carrying out their duty for their country. and forget about the
    airstrikes in Syria, increasing the number of troops in Afghanistan and
    not withdrawing after promising so he could force the next president the
    handle it; unblocking sales of arms to Saudi Arabia, threats of
    toppling North Korea and being open about having the US government
    involve in a regime change in Venezuela. how you can see Trump as a dove
    is beyond reason.
    - Scarlett March 12, 2024 (8:48 am)
      
      I’d save some of the indignation for the present administration which is funding and prolonging a bloody and active wars – in Ukraine and in Gaza. But yes, the only concensus at the State of Union was when war was mentioned which was very revealing.
- Brett March 11, 2024 (8:53 pm)
  
  Seriously, stop wasting your breath on sheep like this using sound bites and group heard mentality to mask their hate. Instead do something way more productive, watch pain dry.
- WS Guy March 11, 2024 (11:34 pm)
  
  These are kangaroo court “convictions”. The distortion of justice and the politically motivated prosecutions by Democrats has been a disgrace to the nation and to democracy itself.
- April March 12, 2024 (4:06 pm)
  
  Derp….Agree. How anyone could vote for a rapist, racist, thieving & con man is beyond comprehension for those who have common sense.

Kelly Johnson March 11, 2024 (4:14 pm)

I am asking this in all seriousness, please don’t judge unless you actually listen to what the man says and not just what the media (hardly) says about him. If I plan to vote for RFK Jr, should I not submit my primary ballot? If I vote either way (R/D) at this point, would I be able to vote for RFK Jr in the election?

WSB March 11, 2024 (5:07 pm)

Yes, this does not bind you to a vote in any subsequent election, on this or any other race. It just means that if you designate D or R for this one, your vote on the side you chose will count, and will be a matter of public record for the ensuing 60 days.
- kjohn March 11, 2024 (6:19 pm)
  
  Thank you for the info, good to know! I’m hoping RFK Jr gets on the ballot this fall! #Kennedy2024
Jethro Marx March 11, 2024 (7:23 pm)

I remember when he went on Joe Rogan’s show and explained how 5G cell phone systems change the cellular structure of our bodies, and when Mr. Rogan (who of course is better known as the head bug eater on Fear Factor) asked “How does that work, exactly?” Mr. Kennedy demurred, saying something to the effect of, “Well I don’t know that, that’s beyond the extent of my knowledge.” Is that what you mean by listening to what he actually says?
- kjohn March 11, 2024 (9:56 pm)
  
  I can tell you’re trying to speak down to my intellect and bait this conversation so I’m only going to respond once. That interview was one of many conversations I’m sure, one I haven’t heard. Although I am glad someone would question 5G’s impact on health and human cells. I don’t see that as a bad thing. And he’s probably right that there are scientists and experts more knowledgeable in how the specifics work. I’m sure there was more to that than one Joe Rogan interview you probably saw slanted in a certain way from the media (who never covers him these days, good or bad!) I’d encourage you to listen more outside of mainstream media. I didn’t like him at first and probably shared a similar viewpoint that you do, but then listened to a lot of his podcast interviews outside of MSM and actually listened to what he fights for and his policies, and he seems like the only sane candidate that can work toward healing our country!
  - check your cells March 13, 2024 (9:41 am)
    
    KJohn, friend, take a long look at yourself in the mirror. Please ask a loved one to explain to you that some people who crave attention and money will say anything to get attention and money from those too feeble to recognize the attempt. RFK is, somehow, a damaged soul. It started with anti-pollution advocacy, trickled into climate change activism, but veered into anti-vaccination and this unscientific QAnon garbage when legitimate sciences crowded out his early adoption of political fund raising for environmental lobbying. You’re a victim. Get help.
  - Jethro Marx March 13, 2024 (9:47 am)
    
    I’m assuming you’re also Kelly Johnson; no, I’m not trying to talk down or bait anything, but the man is not a serious person.
    
    If one is going to make outlandish claims from a position of authority they need to be able to back it up with some facts/evidence. This is not him questioning health impacts, this is him outright declaring there are known health impacts and then having nothing to back it up. We would not take an astrophysicist seriously if they said they could prove the earth was flat using lasers but then couldn’t give specifics.
    
    You get to vote for whoever you want, but you asked us to judge the man by his words, and this is one of many examples that show he is basically a conspiracy theorist riding a fame wave of name recognition.

Carson March 11, 2024 (4:23 pm)

Voted for Chris Christie only because he was the most vocal anti Trump candidate, and we know every vote Trump doesn’t get hurts his ego. Otherwise the primary is meaningless, but I voted!

Seattlite March 11, 2024 (4:26 pm)

I am with you, Trump Fan. These past three plus years have been pure misery starting with Joe’s OPEN southern border.

Info March 11, 2024 (9:13 pm)

how have you been personally impacted by policies governing the southern border? being that it’s been “pure misery” it should be significant! and what are those differences between administrations that precipitated this “misery”? i frankly don’t see any differences between Trump- and Biden-era border policies, and haven’t experienced any “misery” from the southern border, but i guess i’ve had my head in the sand.
AlsoSeattlite March 11, 2024 (9:35 pm)

Pure misery? You must be some kind of loser (using a Trump term) if you’ve been miserable. The economy and life has been great for the rest of us.
1994 March 11, 2024 (10:29 pm)

But wait, wasn’t Trump going to fix the border? He had 4 years and didn’t get it done. Why should he get a 2nd chance to tell us Mexico is going to pay for the wall?!?! Nothing but a bunch of lies from Trump. Even his lawsuit for the alleged slander and harm done to his character was dismissed last week in the UK. Trump was ordered to pay the defendants legal fees on top of the dismissal!
CatLady March 11, 2024 (10:37 pm)

I can’t figure out why Trump supporters would even want to live in Seattle? As a leftist who fervently hopes for things like housing, healthcare, food, and bodily autonomy for everyone, I know why I’m here and not in, like, Florida. I want to be surrounded by people who also love trans folks, believe in climate change, etc. But why live somewhere where the vast majority of people are diametrically opposed to your views?
- Trump Fan March 12, 2024 (1:15 pm)
  
  CatLady, I’ve been in Seattle for many decades, long before it became a leftist haven. I love our home, our neighborhood and neighbors, the weather, the geography, West Seattle, etc. Why would I leave a place I grew up in and love over politics? Especially when this current Mayor and new City Council more closely align with my politics than any other since the 80s.
- Latchkey March 12, 2024 (10:11 pm)
  
  CatLady, this mindset is the reason for the state of our culture today. Everyone is trying to silo themselves into their echo chamber instead of trying to find the good in people who have opposing views to our own. This town doesn’t bring to any one ideology.

WSCurmudgeon March 11, 2024 (4:43 pm)

On the Democratic side, you should vote “Uncommitted Delegates” if you’re not happy that our taxes are buying most of the weapons that are killing mainly innocent people in Gaza. Or if you’re dissatisfied with the candidate for other reasons.

If you write in anything else, it will not be tabulated and printed. If it’s not a name, as suggested in another comment, it will not be counted at all.

On the “other party” side, a vote for Nimarata Nikki Randhawa Haley (her full name, per her website bio) is your best way to register your concerns about the leading candidate.

Peter March 11, 2024 (4:50 pm)

I proudly voted for President Biden. Ignore all the fake Democrats with their silly protest votes, “lesser of two evils” nonsense, and false equivalencies; they’re idiots. Biden has done a great job and I’m 100% behind him without reservation.

HS March 11, 2024 (5:37 pm)

I’m traditionally a moderate voter choosing either party depending on position. However, I agree with you. I do struggle with his age but, for me, it means the VP choice is incredibly important. I firmly believe that we would be in a pretty dire situation had it not been for Bidens experience and good negotiating skills.
WS Guy March 11, 2024 (11:38 pm)

I’ve voted D in every election since Obama. But not this time. I can’t stay on board with the direction things have taken and I can’t support this old corrupt puppet.
- Obama was 2 presidents ago March 13, 2024 (9:44 am)
  
  You sound gullible. The only Republican you voted against was Trump. That isn’t worthy of a flex on your political loyalty. If you’re voting for Trump you’re a fool, it’s intuitive.

Scarlett March 11, 2024 (6:17 pm)

Well, if you want a president who begins his State of the Union Address as if he were a wind-up toy sent out on stage by his military industrial complex handlers, then Biden is your man. Good luck with that – and good luck staying out of WWIII.

Info March 11, 2024 (9:21 pm)

what would be the differences in policies between the administrations where a Trump admin would de-escalate conflicts rather than continuing or escalating them? Trump is on the campaign trail echoing Netanyahu’s stance on continuing the conflict in Gaza until the impossible goal of crushing an ideology is met. Biden, albeit late, has finally started publicly messaging for deescalation. i hate liberal politics just as much as conservative politics, but it’s pure fantasy to think that Trump would be less hawkish than Biden…
- Scarlett March 12, 2024 (2:16 pm)
  
  We have no certainty at all. Based on Trump’s four years, he might be less eager to start or escalate a full-scale war, but we don’t know this for sure. As far as Ukraine, we already have boots on the ground to go along with another round of weapons but the American people are always the last to know these things; the Pentagon’s last seven decades, post-WWII, is a book of lies and deception.
  - helpermonkey March 12, 2024 (2:55 pm)
    
    We have every certainty that he will, in his own words, become a “dictator on day one” and also remove us from NATO. Anyone who votes for that kind of nonsense needs to GTFO of this country, frankly. This is America. We don’t do dictators, we help our Allies. We don’t elect rapists and nazi sympathizers. But I guess some of you are into that kind of person. Gross.
  - Info March 12, 2024 (4:33 pm)
    
    You replied to my comment above that listed all the escalating actions performed under the Trump administration, so I have no clue where you get that he would be “less eager to start or escalate” when on the campaign trail he has been very clear about supporting Israel in its ongoing conflict. How has the Ukraine war been escalated by the US? Sending arms to a nation already in conflict is not escalation. Sending troops would, but there are a grand total of 0 NATO boots on the ground in Ukraine. It seems you’re against the MIC, which I would agree with you on, and I understand the frustration with the current administration, but you prop up Trump like he’d have better alternatives when all evidence past and present should show you that he is even more hawkish. It’s like wanting Bush back because of Obama’s drone strikes… ludicrous.
Rhonda March 11, 2024 (10:37 pm)

Well said, Scarlett.

Rosey March 11, 2024 (6:46 pm)

Early comments on this blog indicate how positively THRILLED I am for another race between the same two old dudes from 2020. Truly, positively thrilled we are running this one back. /s

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy March 11, 2024 (9:48 pm)

How is everyone doing? Don’t mind me I just didn’t want this to be another comment like the other comments in this thread. Happy late evening sunshine to everyone! :)

Whisky Woods March 12, 2024 (10:09 am)

Some need the practice of fill out a ballot correctly and turning it in…
Maybe next time you will fill it out early and avoid any confusion.

Marty March 12, 2024 (11:38 am)

I won’t be voting Democrat this election. Why? Because that would be saying I like the way things are and I don’t. Looking around our city is disgusting and embarrassing. We need to clean up this mess!

Sorry, comment time is over.