The Editor:
How depressing to read that so many primary ballots were rejected as being late, especially considering only 43% of Whatcom County voters even bothered to vote at all. Difficult to say which is worse.
Ballots must be postmarked on or before election day, this year being November 3rd. Since our mail now goes to Seattle for a postmark it takes a couple of extra days to get postmarked. Plan on at least four days for you ballot to get from your mail box to Seattle. There’s no mail service on Sundays. So putting your ballot in the mail on Saturday October 31 isn’t going to make it. Sadly, matters could likely get more dreadful as efforts are underway to undermine our long practice (since the 1980s) as an exclusive vote by mail state.
In addition to mailing your ballot, the County has twenty-two (22) secure drop boxes located conveniently throughout the county. Use one of them and eliminate the whole postmark issue. https://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/117280/2026-Official-Ballot-Drop-Box-Locations
All of our neighbors need to vote . . . it costs nothing, it’s easy, it’s simple, it’s important; every vote matters. It’s part of being in the community. It’s how we participate. Non-voters are slothful and embarrassing. And think about it - not voting is a vote one way or another.
So neighbor, please when the midterm ballots arrive, tend to them thoughtfully and immediately. Sign the outer envelope and get your ballot in the mail ASAP, right after the middle of October, way before the November 3rd election day. This is how our democracy thrives.
Blaine
It is election time; ballots are due by mail on October 14th. Please vote right away. There is an initiative that will correct some bad legislation: I-645 repeals the Washington State Income Tax. Contrary to ads that say that this tax is only for the rich, it will affect us all. Please vote “YES” to reverse this initiative. The state has plenty of money with proper budgeting. Finally, please vote for my friend, Erika Creydt, for Senate. Ericka is a proven leader on Blaine’s School Board and has a heart for our community.
Carolyn D. Anderson
Blaine
The Editor:
To me, a community newspaper along with reporting news, also needs to be both an advocate and voice for residents, and I’ve appreciated your attempts to better make TNL an asset to Blaine. I’d like to make a suggestion along those lines to Daffodil Press for a new section in the paper called “Daffodils and Darts.” It will help give our residents a voice in a community where voice has been muted. Much could be learned. Perhaps new dialogue fostered? Maybe generate new article ideas?
Readers may submit either a daffodil (supportive) or a dart (questioning or oppositional) comment related to someone, someplace or something happening within Blaine. The submission limit is two sentences. The same civility criteria for LTE is followed. Readers can submit twice monthly. Although full contact information is required, only given names are published along with the community where the contributor lives. What do you think?
Ray Leone
Blaine
Publisher’s note: Readers, what do you think?
