New Election Laws in Effect for Washington’s Tuesday Primary

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) – Next week’s primary election doesn’t have any statewide races for voters to contend with, but it will be the first one where same-day voter registration, automatic registration and pre-paid postage are all in effect in Washington state.

On Tuesday, more than 360 local races across the state will be decided by voters, ranging from city council races and school director races to two legislative seats where two recent appointees face primary challenges as they seek election to a full term.

Laws passed over the last two legislative sessions that seek to make it easier for voters to register and cast their ballots are now all in effect.

The state’s more than 4.4 million registered voters started receiving their ballots in the mail weeks ago for the top two primary, in which the top two vote-getters advance to the November ballot, regardless of party.