November 3, 2009 in City

Today’s postmark a must on mail-ins

Drop boxes also available; Idaho polls open until 8 p.m.

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Elections worker Chrystal Shearer separates a ballot, in the yellow envelope, from the mailing envelope, which bears the voter’s name and address, on Monday at the Spokane County Elections Office on Gardner Avenue. Separating the envelopes before counting ensures secrecy.
(Full-size photo) (All photos)

It’s Election Day in Washington and Idaho. Although the 2009 elections may not have as many momentous decisions as last year, voters are being asked to decide a range of local races and issues.

Washington residents, who primarily vote by mail, must have their ballots postmarked by today. Elections officials suggest taking the ballot to a post office and asking a postal worker to have it postmarked today, rather than depositing it in a neighborhood mailbox.

Ballots also can be deposited before 8 p.m. at boxes set up in locations determined by county elections offices. No postage is needed for ballots placed in the drop-off boxes.

Most Idaho residents go to the polls, and polling stations in North Idaho are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All Washington voters have at least two ballot measures to decide. Initiative 1033 would place limits on spending for state, county and city governments; Referendum 71 asks whether an expansion of domestic partner benefits the Legislature passed earlier this year should be allowed to take effect.

Around Spokane County, cities and towns are holding council elections, and some are electing mayors. School, fire and water districts have elections for boards.

The city of Spokane has four ballot propositions, one for a $33 million fire bond and three connected to a series of amendments to the City Charter known as the Community Bill of Rights.

In southeastern Washington’s 9th Legislative District, a special election will fill a vacancy in the state House of Representatives.

Kootenai County voters will decide several mayoral and City Council races along with a countywide ballot measure regarding a jail expansion.

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Three comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  chefxh on November 03 at 8:40 a.m.

  Please vote to APPROVE REFERENDUM 71.

  This from Archbishop Desmond Tutu:

  “I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.”

  This campaign is about helping seniors as well as non-traditional families. It has noting to do with gay marriage; in fact, the text says “A DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP IS NOT A MARRIAGE.”

  It's about fairness, and people who love one another. It takes nothing from you. Please vote to approve.

  Flag as inappropriate

• 

  CalJones on November 03 at 10:55 a.m.

  Leave religion out of the issue and R-71 will cost the tax payers millions, which we cannot afford. Vote to Reject R-71

  Flag as inappropriate

• 

  Steve Zemke on November 03 at 3:55 p.m.

  To find locations of Voter Service Centers and Ballot Drop Boxes open until 8 PM today in Spokane County go to the Spokane Couty Elections website at:
  http://www.spokanecounty.org/News.asp….

  And please vote against Tim Eyman's latest anti-government I-1033 which would transfer our tax dollars from low and middle income taxpayers to mainly help those with lots of property.

  Renters both of residential and commercial property would still pay the same taxes as before but see their taxes go to help pay property taxes for corporations and shopping malls and real estate developers and million dollar homes.

  Vote No on I-1033. Thanks

  Flag as inappropriate