Washington, today is your last chance to weigh in on the candidates, initiatives, and judicial races that will shape our state’s future.

Frustrated with the direction of Washington? Concerned about rising costs, taxes, public safety, education, or the courts? Make sure your voice is part of the conversation. Every election matters, from the statewide ballot measures to the local legislative races that determine who makes decisions in Olympia.

If you haven’t returned your ballot, take it to an official drop box by 8 p.m. tonight. You can find a drop box and track your ballot at VoteWA.gov.

And if you missed the registration deadline, eligible voters can still register and vote in person today at designated county voting centers.

Don’t assume your vote won’t matter. Don’t let frustration keep you home. Get out, return your ballot, and make your voice heard.

Election Day is here. Make it count.

Yakima County elections manager Kathy Fisher says ballots have been arriving faster than expected, outpacing daily returns at the same point in the 2024 presidential election. More than 2 million ballots had been processed statewide ahead of Election Day, representing a little over 40% of Washington’s 5.16 million active registered voters.

What’s motivating voters? Public education, rising household costs, gas prices, and some closely watched legislative and judicial races. Yakima residents also highlighted the District 4 contest between Republican Amanda McKinney and Democrat John Duresky, along with concerns about who sits on Washington’s Supreme Court.

Election officials can’t provide a party breakdown because Washington voters do not register by political affiliation. But one thing is clear: participation is running ahead of expectations in at least some counties. Read more at The Center Square.

In his latest commentary, Jason Rantz argues that Washington Democrats have created a political environment that leaves conservative voters feeling shut out—and that voter apathy only strengthens the party’s grip on power.

Rantz points to the fight over Initiative 645, including the blocked referendum effort and controversial ballot language, as examples of a system stacked against conservative priorities. He also takes aim at Secretary of State Steve Hobbs for repeatedly declining invitations to speak with his conservative radio audience, contrasting that approach with former Secretary of State Kim Wyman’s willingness to engage across political lines.

His broader warning: frustration with the political process can become a self-fulfilling cycle. When voters stay home because they believe their votes won’t matter, they surrender the opportunity to influence legislative races, judicial elections, and ballot measures.

Rantz acknowledges that one election won’t reverse decades of Democratic control, but correctly argues that sitting out only removes another source of accountability. His message is simple: don’t let frustration keep you from participating. Read more at Seattle Red.

In his Election Day preview, KIRO’s Charlie Harger lays out six races and political battles to watch as Washington voters head to the finish line. And there’s no shortage of drama.

First up: campaign cash. Since the state Public Disclosure Commission stopped enforcing the $7,500 cap on late-cycle PAC donations, more than $3 million in oversized checks have poured into Washington campaigns. SEIU alone dropped a $250,000 check into a PAC attacking Supreme Court candidate Sean O’Donnell. Apparently, judicial independence comes with a rather impressive fundraising budget.

Then there are the three Let’s Go Washington initiatives. Harger notes that Initiative 645, repealing the income tax on millionaires, is polling behind, while the girls’ sports and parental rights measures appear to be holding up better. So much for Washington being the reliably anti-income-tax state it once was.

The state Supreme Court races are another major battleground, with unions and Democratic-aligned groups pouring money into attacks on conservative-backed candidates. Harger highlights the race between Sean O’Donnell and Ian Birk, where partisan accusations and attack mailers have become a central feature of the campaign.

In southwest Washington, Republican John Braun faces Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in WA-3. Harger says the race could offer an early indication of whether Democrats are riding a national blue wave—or whether Perez is in trouble.

And Democrats have their eyes on an even bigger prize: a two-thirds supermajority in Olympia. They need roughly seven more House seats and three more Senate seats to gain the power to override gubernatorial vetoes and send constitutional amendments to voters without Republican support. Because apparently a simple majority isn’t quite enough.

Finally, Harger looks ahead to 2028, when every statewide office in Washington will be up for grabs, along with a U.S. Senate seat. Tonight’s results could offer an early glimpse of what’s coming.

One election, six storylines, millions in campaign spending—and plenty of politicians hoping voters don’t notice what’s happening behind the yard signs. Read more at MyNorthwest.com.

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