MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Elections

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Ballot Measure Highlights from the August 2023 Primary Election

August 21, 2023 by Steve Hawley
Category: Annexation , Facilities , Elections , Special Districts , Property Taxes

Primary elections generally see some ballot measures succeed and some fail across the state. This past August, libraries, rec centers, and fire districts fared well, but public hospital districts saw mixed success. And, as always, levy lid lift measures achieved mixed results.

Election Season Tips and Reminders

August 16, 2023 by MRSC Insight
Category: Elections

During any election season, there are a variety of common areas that can trip up candidates, elected officials, and local government agencies and their staff — so let's review some potential problems before they happen.

New Elections Laws Passed in 2023

July 17, 2023 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Elections , New Legislation and Regulations

The state legislature adopted several new election laws this year regarding the candidate filing period, voter registration, records of future voters under the age of 18, and the Washington Voting Rights Act.

A voter putting their ballot into a mailbox

Recapping the February and April 2023 Ballot Measure Results

May 15, 2023 by Steve Hawley
Category: Elections , Fire Protection , Health and Human Services

Regional fire authorities, fire district mergers, hospital funding, and a regional crisis care center network were some of the local ballot measures that appeared before voters in the February and April special elections.

A diverse group of politicians sitting at a dais and speaking to the press

Municipal Elections – Running for Office

March 1, 2023 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Elections

Many local elections will take place this year, including half of councilmember positions in towns and cities, appointed mayors, and many board positions with special purpose districts. Fortunately, there are a number of resources available for new and returning candidates.

Recapping the November 2022 Ballot Measure Results

December 7, 2022 by Steve Hawley
Category: Elections , Revenues , Transportation Finance

As with many past elections, this past November brought voters over 100 local ballot measures across the state, from libraries to bond measures to levy lid lifts. New this year, however, were several measures involving ranked-choice voting and home rule charter propositions.

Managing Unexpected Elections Issues

October 10, 2022 by MRSC Insight
Category: Elections

Sometimes unexpected and unusual situations can arise during the election process, such as a tie between candidates or the withdrawal or death of a candidate before the election takes place.

Elections Integrity and Security: Part 2

October 3, 2022 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Elections

In the second part of our series on election security measures, we look at how elections offices verify and tabulate votes to ensure a complete result, and under what conditions and how a recount happens.

Elections Integrity and Security: Part 1

September 26, 2022 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Elections

Free, fair, and accurate elections are a hallmark of our democratic system. Washington State has enacted a number of measures to protect each person’s right to vote and to ensure that elections statewide are safe and secure.

Supporting/Opposing Ballot Measures and Candidates

August 17, 2022 by MRSC Insight
Category: Elections

Election season raises many questions for local government staff and elected officials, especially when it comes to ballot measures and candidates running for office. What are the rules for supporting or opposing an issue or a candidate and how do these apply?

How Local Ballot Measures Fared in the 2021 General Election

November 10, 2021 by Steve Hawley
Category: Courts and Criminal Justice System , Elections , Transportation Finance , Forms of Government-City , Forms of Government-County , Inclusive Communities

From changes in governance to funding for criminal justice, libraries, and transportation, this blog covers many local ballot measures across the state and how these issues fared in the recent general election.

You’ve Been Elected: Now What?

November 1, 2021 by MRSC Insight
Category: Administrative and Elected Officials , Elections

Now that you've been elected there are a number of steps you'll need to take before assuming office, as well as some resources you might want to check out to get ready for your new adventure.

Use Of Public Facilities for Campaign Elections - 2021 General Election Edition

September 27, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: Elections

Local governments have many questions involving how, when, and in what context public facilities can be used during campaign season. This blog covers some common questions, from political buttons and signs to what (exactly) counts as a public facility.

Redistricting and the 2020 Census

August 30, 2021 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Elections , Tax and Population Data

Local governments using a district-based voting system must begin the process of redistricting in response to the 2020 Census, although a delay in distribution of this data also means new redistricting deadlines.

Regulating Signs During Election Season

August 19, 2021 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Elections , Sign Control

This blog will touch on some frequently asked questions regarding the regulation of political signage.

2021: New Election Laws

July 8, 2021 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Elections , New Legislation and Regulations

This blog summarizes five new laws relating to elections from the 2021 legislative session.

Ballot Measure Results from the 2020 General Election

November 12, 2020 by Steve Hawley
Category: Parks and Recreation Finance , Elections , Fire Protection , Transportation Finance , Forms of Government-County , Law Enforcement

This blog post recaps some of the local ballot measure results from the November 2020 general election and discusses why the record-breaking turnout may make ballot measure validation tougher next year.

Voting Rights and the Election

October 26, 2020 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Elections

This blog discusses a number of elements of Washington State elections that help keep them secure and accessible for everyone.

Regulating Non-Commercial Temporary Signs During Election Season

October 13, 2020 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Elections , Sign Control

This blog post provides a brief refresher on how a jurisdiction may regulate temporary, campaign-related signs in a post-Reed v. Gilbert environment.

Election Season Rules – Does COVID-19 Change the Game?

August 10, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: COVID-19 , Elections

Can an employee post a political sign in their home office? Should elected officials take part in PSA's? This blog explores how standard rules governing what government resources can and cannot be used for during campaign season, and how these rules apply during the pandemic.

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