voting Archives | Northwest Public Broadcasting

Nevada Poised To Become 15th State To Ditch Electoral College

By NPR News May 22, 2019

The state Senate voted along party lines to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would give the state's six electoral votes to the winner of the presidential popular vote. Continue Reading Nevada Poised To Become 15th State To Read More

After Democrats Surged In 2018, Republican-Run States Eye New Curbs On Voting

By NPR News April 24, 2019

After high turnout in the 2018 midterms gave Democrats big gains, several Republican-controlled states are considering changing the rules around voting in ways that might reduce future turnout. Continue Reading After Democrats Read More

After Tense Hearing, Oregon Poised To Join National Popular Vote Movement

By Dirk VanderHart April 9, 2019

Election officials across the country have worked hard to prioritize security ahead of November's midterms, but some strategies could have the unintended effect of sometimes making voting harder. CREDIT: JUSTIN SULLIVAN

For the first time, a proposal that Oregon honor the national popular vote in presidential contests got a vote on the Senate floor on Tuesday, passing easily. Continue Reading After Tense Hearing, Oregon Poised To Join National Popular Read More

Washington Legislators Consider Statewide Native American Voting Rights Act

By Emily Schwing January 24, 2019

Washington state Sen. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, is sponsoring the Native American Voting Rights Act. Courtesy of office of Joe McCoy

A bill in the Washington Senate seeks to improve voting rights for Native Americans. The Native American Voting Rights Act is sponsored by John McCoy, the only tribal member in the state Senate. Continue Reading Washington Read More

Washington Had High Voter Turnout This Year, But Lower In Counties Like Yakima. Why?

By Esmy Jimenez November 30, 2018

If Washington voters don't mail in ballots, they can return them in person to drop boxes like this one at the Yakima County Elections Office. CREDIT: ESMY JIMENEZ/NWPB

In 2018, San Juan County had the highest voter turnout at nearly 84 percent, while Yakima County had the lowest at 61 percent. One major reason for that gap: demographics.Continue Reading Washington Had High Voter Turnout Read More

Déjà Vu All Over Again: Florida Elections For Governor And U.S. Senate Heading For Recount

By NPR News November 10, 2018

Crowds gathered outside of the Broward County Supervisor of Elections this week in Florida. The elections for governor and U.S. Senate are heading for recounts. CREDIT: Joe Skipper/AP

Machine counting of votes will begin this week after narrow margins were reported in the races for governor and U.S. Senate. Continue Reading Déjà Vu All Over Again: Florida Elections For Governor And U.S. Senate Heading Read More

‘I Voted’ Stickers Pile Up In Emotional Tribute At Susan B. Anthony’s Grave

By NPR News November 7, 2018

Susan B. Anthony's grave is covered with "I Voted" stickers in Rochester, N.Y., on Tuesday. CREDIT: JESSICA CRANE

Placing stickers on the suffragist's gravestone has become a kind of pilgrimage for voters in Rochester, N.Y. With a record number of women running, the tribute has special significance this year. Continue Reading ‘I Voted’ Read More

Democrats Make Gains In Washington Legislature, Many Races Too Close To Call

By Austin Jenkins November 7, 2018

Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen was among the Republicans fighting to keep his seat after Tuesday’s election. AUSTIN JENKINS / N3 Listen It wasn’t a sweeping blue wave, but Democrats were poised to pick up several seats in the Washington Legislature based on the first tally of ballots Tuesday evening as many of the most… Read More

Oregon Re-Elects Kate Brown As Governor

By Lauren Dake November 7, 2018

Gov. Kate Brown celebrates her Election Night victory at the Democratic Party of Oregon 2018 election party on Nov. 6, 2018 in Portland. CREDIT: JONATHAN LEVINSON/OPB

Democratic Gov. Kate Brown defeated Republican state Rep. Knute Buehler in the race to see who will hold Oregon’s highest office. Continue Reading Oregon Re-Elects Kate Brown As GovernorRead More

With Control Of U.S House At Stake, Eastern Washington Race Could Hinge On College Students

By Ryan Blake November 6, 2018

WSU Pullman students return ballots to an on-campus drop box Nov. 6, 2018. CREDIT: SCOTT LEADINGHAM/NWPB

Lisa Brown fell about 8,000 votes short of incumbent and fourth-ranking Republican House leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers in August’s primary. But that was before roughly 60,000 students returned to campuses across the district. Read More

Black Coffee Served With Anticipation On Election Day In Eastern Washington Wheat County

By Anna King November 6, 2018

The Top Notch Cafe in Colfax is the site of good food and plenty of political discussion from the regular group of retired farmers on Nov. 6, 2018. CREDIT: ANNA KING/N3

At the Top Notch Café in Colfax, Wash., eight retired farmers and small-town guys drink black coffee every morning. Some travel near 100 miles round-trip just for the caffeine and chatter. On election day, plates overloaded with eggs, sausages, biscuits and waffles clatter onto a long table -- and the guys dig in. Read More

How Does Your Ballot Get Counted In Washington? Veeeery Carefully

By Esmy Jimenez November 5, 2018

Workers in the Yakima County Elections Office work to open ballots and verify information. Their work is done within public view behind a glass wall, for anyone to monitor. CREDIT: ESMY JIMENEZ/NWPB

The 2018 Midterm election is upon us, and now it’s time to wait and make sure all the ballots are counted. But how does that process actually work? Continue Reading How Does Your Ballot Get Counted In Washington? Veeeery CarefullyRead More

Washington’s I-1631 Is Latest In Long Line Of Attempts At Nation’s First-Ever Carbon Tax

By Ashley Ahearn November 5, 2018

Rancher Dave Creveling believes the cost of a new Washington state carbon fee would be passed along to rural people like him if voters approve it. CREDIT: ASHLEY AHEARN

Ballot Initiative 1631 is the latest in a string of failed legislative efforts in the state to charge polluters for the carbon they are emitting. This initiative is the first of its kind nationally because of the billions of dollars it would generate—and it's become one of the most expensive ballot initiative fights in Washington history. Read More

Key Questions The 2018 Election Will Answer

By NPR News November 5, 2018

A volunteer stands in front of an American flag before President Trump speaks at a rally last week in Indianapolis. Indiana is a key Senate battleground state for the GOP.

Voters will give the final judgment on Tuesday, determining not just the control of Congress — but also the very future of American politics. Continue Reading Key Questions The 2018 Election Will AnswerRead More

The Washington Election (And Others) Decided By A Single Vote (Or A Little More)

By NPR News November 4, 2018

Ballot drop boxes are stored for future use in a warehouse area of the King County Elections office in Renton, Wash. While Washington is one of just three states that conduct all of their elections by mail, it's the only one of those three that allows ballots to be postmarked by election day. CREDIT: ELAINE THOMPSON

Many Americans say they are disaffected with the system of politics and sit on the sidelines, especially in midterms. But not voting can have consequences: Just look at these races. Continue Reading The Washington Election (And Read More

Judge Rules Native Americans In North Dakota Must Comply With Voter ID Law

By NPR News November 2, 2018

Residential roads with no street name or number signs, such as this one in Belcourt, N.D., are common on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation. Under recently tightened state rules, voters in North Dakota are required to present identification with a street address, which is a hurdle for Native Americans. CREDIT: Blake Nicholson/AP

A federal judge has ruled that Native Americans in North Dakota must comply with the state's recently tightened voter ID law. At the same time, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland acknowledged that the law had raised concerns. Continue Read More

Latino Businesses Caught In Between ‘No’ And ‘Yes’ Campaigns Of Washington Carbon Tax Measure

By Esmy Jimenez October 31, 2018

Mary’s Boutique, owned by Mario Fuentes, in Yakima. According to a public list available on “No on 1631” Mary’s Boutique is listed as a business opposed to the carbon tax initiative. Fuentes says he never gave permission for his business to be published on that list and that he is in favor I-1631. CREDIT: ESMY JIMENZ/NWPB

Some Washington Latino-owned businesses say they were wrongly put on a list that claimed they were against I-1631, a state ballot initiative seeking to tax carbon emissions. Continue Reading Latino Businesses Caught In Read More

Voter Turnout Could Hit 50-Year Record For Midterm Elections

By NPR News October 18, 2018

Women gather for a rally and march at Grant Park on Saturday in Chicago to urge voter turnout ahead of the midterm elections. CREDIT: KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI

The 2018 elections could see the highest turnout for a midterm since the mid-1960s, another time of cultural and social upheaval. Continue Reading Voter Turnout Could Hit 50-Year Record For Midterm ElectionsRead More

IDs Of Many Native Americans Won’t Be Accepted At North Dakota Polling Places

By NPR News October 13, 2018

This June, instructions were posted at an early voting precinct in Bismarck, N.D. In that primary election, tribal IDs that did not show residential addresses were accepted as voter ID. But those same IDs will not be accepted in the general election. CREDIT: James MacPherson/AP

The Supreme Court has upheld a state law requiring voters' IDs to have street addresses, which many reservations do not use. Native American groups are now scrambling to prepare for Election Day. Continue Reading IDs Of Many Native Read More

To Deter Foreign Hackers, Some States May Also Be Deterring Voters

By NPR News October 12, 2018

A number of states are blocking web traffic from foreign countries to their voter registration websites, making the process harder for some U.S. citizens who live overseas to vote, despite the practice providing no real security benefits. Continue Read More

Want Election Results? On West Coast, Patience Is Required

By NWPB News October 10, 2018

If control of the U.S. House comes down to any of the competitive congressional races in Washington and California, the nation might have to wait days to learn the outcome. Continue Reading Want Election Results? On West Coast, Patience Is Read More

Court Rules North Carolina Can Use Gerrymandered Map In November

By NPR News September 5, 2018

A court ruled that congressional maps that came from North Carolina State Capitol were unconstitutionally gerrymandered but will still be used in November. CREDIT: GERRY BROOME/AP

Judges in North Carolina said Tuesday that there isn't enough time to approve a new map before a new session of Congress — despite finding the map to be unconstitutionally gerrymandered. Continue Reading Court Rules North Carolina Can Use Read More

U.S. Voting System Remains Vulnerable 6 Months Before Election Day. What Now?

By NPR News May 8, 2018

Officials have their eyes open to the threats in a way they didn't in 2016, but they are limited by a lack of time and resources. Continue Reading U.S. Voting System Remains Vulnerable 6 Months Before Election Day. What Now?Read More

Big Changes Coming To Voting Rights And Access In Washington

By Austin Jenkins March 16, 2018

washnigton state capitol CREDIT: BRIANHE / WIKIMEDIA - TINYURL.COM/ZMPZ86K

Youth age 16 and 17 will soon be able to pre-register to vote in Washington. That’s just one of several voting-related bills the governor is scheduled to sign into law soon. Continue Reading Big Changes Coming To Voting Rights And Access In Read More

Could Hackers Change Voter Registrations To Disrupt Elections?

By Austin Jenkins September 6, 2017

U.S. ARMY Listen Could a hacker alter your voter registration to disrupt an election? According to a study by Harvard researchers out Wednesday, the answer is yes. The study says voter registration websites for 35 states, including Washington and Oregon, as well as the District of Columbia were vulnerable to voter identity theft in the 2016 election.… Read More

U.S. Department Of Justice Also Seeks Voter Information From States

By Austin Jenkins July 3, 2017

Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman says she’s confident the state is in compliance with federal voting laws. Her office recently received a letter from the Department of Justice’s voting section chief requesting proof of compliance. AUSTIN JENKINS / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK Listen It’s not just the president’s commission on voter fraud that’s seeking Read More