Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman called on Gov. Jay Inslee last week to cancel Washington state’s special election on April 28 that would see bonds and levies voted on in 18 counties. Jefferson County does not have a special election scheduled for this spring.
While Washington has a vote-by-mail system that would meet requirements of social distancing practices recommended by the state, Wyman said in a letter to the governor that she worries the state will not be able to adequately administrate the election with courthouse closures, workforce reductions and postal disruptions that are likely to occur during the continued COVID-19 shutdown.
“To facilitate this election at this time would be uncertain at best,” Wyman wrote in the letter. “The situation is changing daily, and the uncertainty surrounding this pandemic significantly inhibits our ability to conduct this special election to the standards we hold in Washington.”
Twelve of the 36 local elections scheduled to take place have already been canceled by their respective local governments.
Wyman said municipalities that reschedule have two more dates this year they can consider; Aug. 4 or Nov. 3.
Jefferson County’s next election is the general election Nov. 3.
