Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Where can I register to vote?
  2. When is the deadline to register to vote in November's General Election?
  3. When and where do Stevens County Democrats meet?
  4. How do I contact Stevens County Democrats?
  5. How can I volunteer?
  6. How can I donate?
  7. Are there any elected Democrats serving in Stevens County?
  8. Who are the Stevens County Democrats Officers?
  9. What is the Stevens County Democrats platform?
  10. What does Washington's 'Top Two' Primary REALLY mean?

1. There are many opportunities and locations where you can register. The Washington State Secretary of State's Web site has valuable information for new and transferring registrants here.

The quickest and easiest (since you're reading this online) is to complete this online form. You can also print out a form found here and return to the Washington State Secretary of State's office.

Office of the Secretary of State
Voter Registration by Mail
PO Box 40230
Olympia, WA 98504-0230

 

2. The deadline for registering or transferring your voter registration is 30 days before an election. If you register by mail, your application must be postmarked by the 30-day cutoff or it will not become effective until after the election.

If you are not already registered to vote in Washington and you miss the 30-day deadline, you can register in person at your county elections department until 15 days before the election. Contact your County Auditor for assistance and information

 

3. Stevens County Democrats meet monthly at rotating locations around the county. See the home page for upcoming meetings.

 

7. Stevens County has five elected officials serving County government: Tim Gray, Auditor, Patty Chester, County Clerk,  Craig Thayer, Sheriff , Sue Harnasch, County Treasurer and County Coroner Patti Hancock.

Washington State's Secretary of Health Mary Selecky is from Stevens County.

 

8. In addition to the Precinct Committer Officers (and there are quite a few) here are the local party officers elected by members of the SC Democrats:

Chair Bob Esvelt
Vice-Chair Susan Durnell
Treasurer Linda Martin
Co-Secretaries Carolyn McKern and Lu Schroder
   
State Committeeman Larry Ludwig
State Committeewoman Becky Esvelt









10. Provided by Dwight Pelz, Chair of Washington State Democrats:

Top Two Primary FAQ: A Primary Primer for Democrats

What is the difference between the Top Two primary, and the primaries we have always conducted in Washington?

A primary election can serve either one or two roles: to winnow down the number of candidates who will appear on the general ballot; and to nominate the candidate for a political party. In a non-partisan election, such as city council races in Washington, the primary takes a field of candidates running for a given office and reduces (winnows down) that field to two. Historically in Washington, for a partisan race such as the Legislature or Congress, the primary reduces the field to two; but also serves to nominate the candidate of the Party. In 2004 Ron Sims ran against Chris Gregoire for Governor. When the voters gave more votes to Gregoire, they nominated her to be the nominee of the Democratic Party.

The Top Two Primary will only serve to winnow down the field to two candidates; and will no longer nominate a candidate for one party or the other. This is true even when the general election features one Democrat against one Republican – neither will be the nominee of their party.

Why are we holding Nominating Conventions?

The Top Two primary took from our party the ability to have the voters nominate a candidate. We are not willing to have this vital role eliminated. That is a time honored role of our political party in America – to let the voters know who is our nominated candidate. The Supreme Court in its ruling clearly acknowledged the right of the parties to nominate through "whatever mechanism" we choose. "Whether the parties nominate their own candidates outside the state-run primary is simply irrelevant. In fact, parties many now nominate candidates by whatever mechanism they choose because I-872 repealed Washington's prior regulations governing party nomination.'

Who decided we should hold Nominating Conventions?

In 2005 the State Central Committee extensively debated how the Party would nominate candidates in the event that the State or the courts implemented the Top Two Primary. The Central Committee voted and passed the Rules for the Selection of Candidates and Nominees for Public Office. These rules were applied in 2005 in two County Council races, one in King and one in Snohomish. In King County, PCO's had to choose between two incumbent Democrats, and nominated Bob Ferguson over Caroline Edmonds. Both candidates filed, and the race was very close, and not decided for a week after the voting. On April 3, 2008, the Executive Board met and reviewed these rules. Because the rules were adopted by the Central Committee, the E Board could not amend them, rather they met to decide whether an emergency Central Committee should be called to consider amending the rules. The E Board decided against an emergency CC meeting for 3 reasons: 1) they felt the rules were well drafted and a good response to the current election cycle; 2) they were not certain the necessary quorum could be met for an emergency meeting; and 3) they doubted the Central Committee would amend the rules if a quorum were met.

Why Should the PCO's Have the Power to Nominate?

There is ample precedent for this. Elected PCO's are elected public officials, and granted legal powers by statute. PCO's are currently charged by state law with the responsibility to nominate a candidate to the county authority, to fill vacancies in the Legislature and other partisan positions. This is not a task PCO's in 'Washington State shirk. When PCO's choose a person to fill a vacancy, that person is usually sworn into office within a week. The "winning" candidate takes office, the "losing" candidates go home. Filling a vacancy arguably is a more consequential task than nominating a candidate at a Nominating Convention. Both the nominee and the challenger are free to file for the position, and campaign for the Top Two primary. In highly Democratic districts the two may face each other a third time, on the general election ballot.

What if our LD or County Organization Does not Nominate?

It is the policy of the WSDCC to have a nominee in contested partisan races. According to the Rules for the Selection of Candidates and Nominees for Public Office, the State Party Chair shall nominate a candidate in the event that the local party does not. I will propose a nominee to the Executive Board, and ask them to approve that candidate.

Is it democratic for the Local Party and the PCO's to nominate a candidate?

Clearly it is far more responsive to local voters and the local party for the PCO's to exercise this power than for the State Party Chair to act. Elected PCO's are elected officials, and appointed PCO's are also officers of the party. The Washington State Democratic Party is a democracy -- a representative democracy governed by the State Central Committee. It is the role and responsibility of local party organizations to follow policies adopted by the Central Committee. The act of nominating a candidate at the Nominating Convention is not the same as endorsing a candidate. This is not an endorsement meeting, there is no two-thirds rule, and there will be no dual nominations.

As the Rules state: These rules are mandatory and are not amendable by any party organization other than the Washington State Democratic Central Committee or the State Convention.

The Top Tow primary eliminates choice.

Proponents of the Top Two primary argue that the measure expands choice for voters. In fact the Top Two primary eliminates many of the choices voters have had in Washington elections. The new primary is described as a blow to the Democratic and Republican parties, when in fact it insures they will be the only two parties considered in Washington.

We are virtually banning minor parties in Washington. In 2006 there were five parties to choose from in the US Senate race – Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green, and Independent. If that election were held today, under the Top Two primary rules, you would be free to choose between Mike McGavick and Maria Cantwell. If you are a Libertarian or Green or Independent you no longer have any choice. Part of our political heritage in America has been the right to cast a protest vote. That right no longer exists in Washington state.

Under the Top Two primary, a Republican in Seattle may be free to choose between two Democratic candidates for the legislature, while a Democrat in Ritzville will be free to choose one of two Republican candidates for the legislature.

The Top Two primary will confuse Voters.

Every November in America voters look at their ballots to see who is the Democrat or the Republican or independent candidate; and they cast their votes. Some voters take more time to research the candidates; others trust the Republican Party or the Democratic Party and vote more or less along party lines. Under the Top Two system voters will not know which candidate is the nominee of the Democratic or Republican Party. Instead, they will view a new, goofy ballot which reads:

        Booth Gardner Prefers Democratic Party

        John Spellman Prefers Republican Party

We should not be making voting or ballots more difficult for voters. Only 54 percent of eligible voters in the US cast their ballots during the last four decades of presidential elections. We rank 35th in voter turnout out of the world's prominent democracies – 90% of Italians, 80% of Germans, and 76% of French and Canadian voters vote.