The 2025 general election season is here, with ballots due to arrive at the homes of Whatcom County voters as early as October 15 for the November 4 general election.
Voters may cast their votes immediately upon receiving their ballots, and ballot processing will begin on October 15, according to the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office.
Ballots may be returned to any of the 24 official drop boxes in Whatcom County by 8 p.m. Election Day, Tuesday, November 4. Ballots returned by mail and postmarked by November 4 will also be accepted, thought the auditor’s office cautions voters to check the last pickup time on their mailboxes. Stamps are not needed to return ballots either by drop box or by mail.
Online and mail voter registrations must be received by Monday, October 27. Prospective voters can also register in person any time before 8 p.m. on Election Day by visiting the auditor’s office at 311 Grand Avenue, suite 103, in Bellingham from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
The auditor’s office can assist people registering to vote and updating their registration address. It also has accessible voting units for those who require visual or audio aids.
For more information about the general election, call the auditor’s office at 360/778-5102 or email elections@co.whatcom.wa.us.
This year’s ballot will be full of important decisions for local voters, especially in Blaine and Birch Bay. Decisions on the ballot include a statewide vote on how to invest long-term care funds, a dozen county propositions, local measures to increase the number of Port of Bellingham commissioners and change the city limits of Blaine, races for four Blaine City Council positions, three Blaine school board positions, and much more.
Below is what will appear on ballots for most Blaine, Birch Bay and Custer voters:
This proposition would increase the number of commissioners of the Port of Bellingham from three to five, which would create new districts. If passed, the proposition would allow two commissioners to meet outside of port meetings, something that currently isn’t allowed under the state’s Open Public Meetings Act because it would create a quorum.
The lone city measure brought to voters in Blaine will be Proposition 2025-07 regarding the reduction of city limits.
The resolution is asking voters if they are in favor of de-annexing 573 acres of incorporated urban growth area (UGA) in east Blaine – the majority of which is the Grandis Pond property. The city would also de-annex 37 acres near Dakota Creek.
If passed, the city would then try to replace those areas with 453 acres of UGA near Semiahmoo as well as 124 acres of UGA in southeast Blaine. The proposed Blaine UGA in Semiahmoo would lead to the city promoting high-density housing near Semiahmoo, which has already been planned for future development, according to previous reporting by The Northern Light.
Blaine City Council voted 6-0 to put the decision to voters during a July 14 council meeting. Proponents of the UGA swap say Blaine is in desperate need of land for affordable and dense housing with the development of Grandis Pond in question, while opponents say the city has not done its due diligence on environmental and water concerns, among others.
There are 12 propositions for Whatcom County voters to consider on county government, many of which are specifically focused on the functions of the county executive and council.
The Whatcom County Charter Review Commission proposed these changes, which would amend what is essentially the county’s constitution. The 15-member commission meets every 10 years to assess and update the county charter.
• Proposition 1 would authorize county councilmembers to hire dedicated legislative aides, or for multiple councilmembers to hire one joint aide.
• Proposition 2 would establish a Whatcom County “Office of the Ombuds” which would investigate complaints and inquiries into county government.
• Proposition 3 would establish performance audits, or a new process to review, evaluate and report on aspects of county government. Independent contractors would conduct the audit.
• Proposition 4 seeks to clarify the powers and duties of county elected officials with an amendment to Article 3 of the county charter.
• Proposition 5 would amend Whatcom County’s redistricting process to better comply with state law, and require the districting committee hold a public hearing before adopting a redistricting plan.
• Proposition 6 would adjust the calculation of signatures required to place a referendum on ballots. If approved, the requirement for a referendum would be signatures equal to 14 percent of the most recent county executive election. The current requirement is eight percent of the last gubernatorial election.
• Proposition 7 would prohibit the county government from taking action in relation to an initiative or charter amendment.
• Proposition 8 would require more public disclosure requirements upon the county executive prior to approving budgets.
• Proposition 9 would prohibit county council from approving any non-emergency supplemental budget appropriations unless a report has been submitted within the last 90 days.
• Proposition 10 would more clearly define rules of procedure for charter review commission meetings.
• Proposition 11 would adjust the calculation of signatures required to place a charter amendment on ballots. If approved, signatures collected would have to equal 20 percent of the most recent county executive election. The current requirement is 15 percent of the last gubernatorial election.
• Proposition 12 would require the county executive to publish an analysis of how land supply and construction costs could be affected by new legislation.
The only state measure on this year’s general election ballot will ask Washington voters to approve a constitutional amendment proposed by the state legislature that would allow taxpayer money in the state’s long-term care fund to be invested.
If approved, this amendment would allow the state fund dedicated to providing long-term care benefits for eligible seniors and people with disabilities to be invested into private stock. The state created a long-term care insurance program in 2019.
The state constitution generally prohibits investing public money into stocks of private companies, allowing states to invest public money only into securities like government and corporate bonds. Exemptions exist, with public pension and retirement funds, workers’ compensation funds, and others, being invested into publicly traded stocks, according to the measure’s explanatory statement.
If approved, the Washington State Investment Board would manage the funds.
• Whatcom County Council District 1 – Kaylee Galloway (unopposed)
• Whatcom County Council District 2 – Elizabeth Boyle and Maya Morales
• Whatcom County Council District 3 – Jessica Rienstra and Kyle Christensen
• Whatcom County Council At-Large Position A – Barry
Buchanan and Misty Flowers
• Port of Bellingham Commissioner District 1 – Michael Alvarez Shepard (unopposed)
• Port of Bellingham Commissioner District 2 – Ken Bell and Carly James
• Ward 1 Position 1 – Eric Lewis and Jiggy Sorrell
• Ward 2 Position 4 – Isaac Newland and Ray Leone
• Ward 3 Position 6 – Sukhwant Gill and Don Enos
• At-Large Position 7 – Mike Hill (dropped out) and Sarbie Bains
• Director District 3 – Bob Feaster and Jim Shaver
• Director District 4 – Ryan Swinburnson (unopposed)
• Director District 5 – Chelsey Belarmino (unopposed)
• Commissioner Position 3 – Craig Anthony (unopposed)
• Commissioner Position 3 – John Schindler and Joan Connell
• Commissioner Position 2 – Sheli Moore (unopposed)
• Commissioner Position 4 – Billy Brown (unopposed)
