Eight Weeks

September 8, 2026

The midterm election is on November 3, eight weeks from today. If you have never voted, get registered as soon as possible. If you haven’t voted for some time, check that your registration is complete and up to date.

If you can vote in person, make plans to do so. Vote early if it’s more convenient for you, or vote on election day. If you need transportation, schedule a ride to your polling place, either with someone you know or with a volunteer ride service. Some community organizations and churches offer the service for free on election day.

If you must vote by mail and your election commission does not send ballots automatically, request one now to ensure that you receive it in time to fill it out and get it back in the mail no later than one week before election day.

Once you have your ballot, take time to read the instructions that come with it. Follow the instructions exactly to make sure your ballot will be accepted and counted. Don’t give anyone the least little excuse to reject your ballot.

When you’re ready, make your choices and fill out your ballot. If you need a witness to sign the envelope, make arrangements with a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or other acquaintance to serve as your witness. Offer to serve as the other person’s witness.

Fill out the return envelope completely and legibly. If your ballot has both an inner and an outer envelope for return, fill out everything on both envelopes before you seal anything.

Double-check everything: ballot and envelope(s).

When you’re sure that everything is complete and correct, follow the instructions for placing the ballot in the envelope(s) and sealing the envelope(s). Take photos of the front and back of the envelope (if there are two envelopes, take photos of both).

If you can, go to your post office and ask to have the envelope postmarked by hand. There is no charge for this. Ask if you can take a photo of the envelope, so you have one showing the postmark. (Remember to thank the postal clerk.)

If you must drop the envelope in a mailbox or a dedicated ballot box, take a photo that shows you putting the ballot in the box. (Better yet, go with your witness and take videos of each other.) Make sure your camera will put a date stamp on the photo or video. (My camera saves my photos with a number that begins with the date, a dash, then the time.)

See one or more of the articles below to learn about the importance of the postmark. If you drop your ballot in a mailbox, it may not be postmarked for several days. The pages from the USPS website provide information about postmarks. The news articles discuss how the number of mail ballots that were returned too late to be counted increased a lot in Washington state’s primary as a result of new rules that went into effect last winter.

Voting is your right. Don’t let anyone interfere in the free exercise of this right. Voting is also a civic duty. If you are eligible to vote, please do your duty. It is more important than ever. Please vote! Thank you.

https://news.usps.com/2026/02/03/postal-service-offers-postmarking-guidance/

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/statements/010226-postmarking-myths-and-facts.htm

https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2026/pb22694/html/updt_002.htm

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/other/washington-sees-32-jump-in-ballots-rejected-for-late-postmarks-after-usps-rule-change/ar-AA2brGK9

https://mynorthwest.com/kiro-opinion/ballot-drop-box-usps-postmark/4272231