My Power. My Impact. My Vote. 2022

Dark silhouette of person with background of blue, white stripes, and red and white stars, with "VOTE!" above person, "My Power. My Impact." in yellow in the silhouette. Surrounded by "Vote!" in Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Vietnamese, Somali, and Chinese.
Image designed by Zuheb Siddique, DMA 103 student, and Mariella Lawson, DMA Instructor

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All You Need to Know about the 2022 Elections

Saturday, September 17 – Constitution Day

Tuesday, September 20 – National Voter Registration Day

Tuesday, October 18 – WA Secretary of State Debate, Julie Anderson & Steve Hobbs, 7pm

Friday, October 21 – First Batch of WA Ballots Received by Registered Voters; Start Voting!!

Sunday, October 23 – WA Senate Debate, Parry Murray & Tiffany Smiley, 5pm

Tuesday, October 25 – WA 9th Congressional District Debate, Doug Basler & Adam Smith, 2pm

Tuesday, October 25 – WA Senate Debate, Parry Murray & Tiffany Smiley, 7pm

Friday, October 28 – WA 8th Congressional District Debate, Matt Larkin & Kim Schrier, 7pm

Monday, October 31 – Final Date for Online and Mail-In Registration

Tuesday, November 1 – Reminder: Return Ballots 7+ Days Before Election Day

Tuesday, November 8 – Final Date for In-Person Registration (before 8:00pm)

Tuesday, November 8 – Final Date to Send or Drop Off Ballots (Voting Day!)

How to Register to Vote (King County)

How to Vote by Mail (King County)

How to Vote by Mail (Snohomish County) – No Narration

How the Vote Is Processed (King County)

How Your Vote Is Counted (King County)

How and When Votes Are Certified (King County)

How Your Vote Is Secured at an Elections Office (King County)

Q. Am I eligible to vote? If you can answer yes to each of these statements, you are eligible to vote.

  • I am a U.S. Citizen
  • I will be at least 18 years old by or on Election Day
  • I will have lived in Washington for at least 30 days before the election
  • I am not presently denied my right to vote as a result of being under the authority of the Department of Corrections for a felony conviction (see below)

Q: Is it too late to register for this election? To register by mail or online, your application must be received no later than 8 days before Election Day (October 31). Register to vote in person during business hours and any time before 8:00 PM on Election Day (November 8). You can register in person at a voting center; the voting center in the Bellevue College gymnasium is the only center on the Eastside.

Q: How do I register to vote? If you live in Washington, go to its voter site. If you live outside Washington, the national site can help you.

Q: How do I check whether my voter registration is going to the right place? How do I change my name or address? Easy! Go to the state’s voter registration website, enter in your legal name and birthdate, and then see what name and address are listed for you. You can then update them as needed.

Q. I am not yet 18 years old. Can I still register? Yes. 16 and 17 year old citizens can register to vote in WA. You will automatically receive ballots once you turn 18. If you move, you will need to update your address. If you are using the older voter registration forms, you can disregard the language that says “I will be 18 by the next election.” The updated forms say “I am at least 16 years old.”

Q. I am an immigrant / refugee. Can I still vote? Yes, as long as you are 18 years old and a US citizen. You can register to vote as long as you are 16 years old and a US citizen.

Q: What is the law on felons voting? If a person was convicted of a felony in Washington, the right to vote is restored once the person completes their sentence and is not under the authority (in prison or in community custody) of the Department of Corrections (DOC). Once the right to vote is restored, the person must re-register to vote in order to receive a ballot. If the felony conviction is from another state or in federal court, the right to vote is restored as long as the person is not currently incarcerated for that felony. You do not lose you right to vote in Washington for a misdemeanor or juvenile conviction, even if you were incarcerated. If you have questions about your status with DOC, you can call (800) 430-9674. Read more about felons and voting rights…

Q. What do I do if I don’t have a home or stable address? You can register by providing a physical location where you spend most of your time, and a valid mailing address. You can use the address or cross-streets of the shelter (e.g. 10th and Pike, 98122), park, vehicle, intersection or other identifiable location that you consider your current residence if you do not have a traditional residential address. This location will be used to determine which precinct you will vote in. Along with your residential address, you must also provide a valid mailing address. You need a mailing address in order to receive your ballot and election information on time. You could use a post office box, address of a friend or relative, shelter, day center, or Community Service Office where you can get mail, or general delivery at a local post office.

(Information provided by the Washington Secretary of State, the Washington ACLU, and the Washington Bus.)

Q. How can I vote? In Washington, all voting is conducted through mail. To fill the ballot, you will use a pen to fill in the ovals corresponding to your preferred candidates / responses, remove the ballot stub, place the ballot within a protective slip, seal the envelope, and sign the back. Then, mail it or take it to your local post office. There is no stamp or postage necessary. Do not use FedEx, UPS, or Amazon Lockers for your ballot. You can also return your ballot via an official drop box. You can find the location of your nearest drop box by logging into the state’s voting site. Traditionally, you could also visit a Voting Center on Election Day in case you need to vote in person, but they may be closed due to COVID-19. However, if you have a disability that prevents you from voting by mail, voting centers should be able to support you. See below.

Q. When can I vote? Ballots will start being mailed to registered voters just before October 21. You can stick the ballot in the mail anytime before your local postal worker picks up mail on November 8. You can also take the sealed ballot to your post office before it closes. If using a drop box, the ballots must be placed in them by 8pm on November 8. It is strongly encouraged that you complete and return your ballot as early as possible, as this will help reduce burdens on postal workers and elections officials.

Q. What do I do if I haven’t received my ballot? Your ballot is mailed to you at least 18 days before each election. If you haven’t received it, verify your registration and address. Then, contact Voter Registration Customer Service at VRSupport@sos.wa.gov or call 800-448-4881. Because of the pandemic, the Elections office might be closed or have limited access to the general public, so please don’t go in person.

Q: What services are available to voters living with disabilities? As a voter with a disability, you can request a reasonable accommodation or assistance to vote. The Office of the Secretary of State is committed to ensuring accessibility at voting centers, and that you have the opportunity to vote privately and independently. Accessible formats of the voters’ pamphlet are available online. If you wish to join the subscription list to receive a copy on USB drive of the Voters’ Pamphlet, please contact the voter hotline at (800) 448-4881 or email voterspamphlet@sos.wa.gov. Accessible voting units (AVUs) are available until 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can also get support with voting at a voting center; the only one on the Eastside is located in the Bellevue College gymnasium. Read more about voting accessibility…

Q. Do I need to have an ID in order to vote in Washington? No. But it can be helpful when registering to vote. If you do not have a Washington ID (including driver’s licence or permit), then you will need to use the last four (4) digits of your Social Security Number to register.

Q: Is it OK to selfie myself holding my completed ballot and post it on social media? The state of Washington does not directly prohibit ballot selfies.  However, it is illegal to view another’s ballot for a purpose prohibited by law, such as vote buying. You can also post a selfie with your ballot stub and the hashtag #BulldogImpact.

(Information provided by the Washington Secretary of State, the Washington ACLU, and the Washington Bus.)

Q: What kind of turnaround do we expect for this election? How long will it take to get results for the majority of the ballots? The first set of results will be published online at around 8:15 p.m. Results are certified by counties 21 days after a General Election (10 days after a Special Election & 14 days after a Primary). The State certifies Primary results no later than 30 days after a General Election (17 days after a Primary).

Q: Is our election system secure from cyberattack? Washington employs the recommendations raised by security experts, and have done so for years, such as paper-based systems, including voter verifiable paper audit trails; independent testing; pre- and post-election audits; and physical security of tabulation equipment. The VoteWA system is secured by highly skilled Office of the Secretary of State IT staff and Security Operations Center, using state of the art equipment and following IT industry best practices. We have embarked on an unprecedented opportunity to work collaboratively with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that our election systems remain secure. This partnership allows us to work together, elections and IT experts, working hand in hand to ensure our systems are secure. Read more about election system security…

Q: Can the election be rigged? Washington employs the recommendations raised by security experts, and have done so for years. Such as paper based systems, including voter verifiable paper audit trails, independent testing, pre- and post-election audits, and physical security of tabulation equipment. Before a tabulation system can be used in Washington, we require testing at a federally approved independent testing lab. These expert testers include security reviews as a part of their overall testing efforts.  Then, systems are tested here at the state level and reviewed by our own voting systems certification board, comprised of technology experts, accessibility experts, and certified county election officials.  Counties must then perform acceptance testing and logic and accuracy testing prior to every election. In addition, we conduct post-election audits, where we draw precincts and races at random and compare the vote totals from the tabulator to a hand count of ballots before the election is certified.

Q: How can you tell if somebody tries to vote on more than one ballot? Each voter has a single active record in the statewide voter registration database (VoteWA). When a ballot is received by the Election Division, the signature is compared to the voter’s registration and the voter’s record is marked as having returned a ballot. If the voter attempts to return an additional ballot, the system warns the election official that a ballot has already been returned.  Election workers report that information to the canvassing board, who in turn reports it to the Prosecuting Attorney if further investigation is warranted.

(Information provided by the Washington Secretary of State, the Washington ACLU, and the Washington Bus.)


Help Us Out by Completing a 2-Minute Survey!

Do people at our college vote? Do they enjoy or run away from difficult discussions? How do they participate in their communities?

Bellevue College would like to collect data about the voter and civic engagement of its students, faculty, and staff. This information will better allow the college to plan activities that build our collective voice in our communities and across the nation.

We encourage all members of the Bellevue College community, no matter age or citizenship status, to complete this 2-minute survey (click yellow button below), preferably by November 1. At this time, the survey is only available in English. All responses are anonymous and confidential. Please contact Sapan Parekh with questions.


Don’t *Just* Vote. Participate!

Bellevue College Voter Engagement Events

The Voter Engagement Committee is excited to bring you this incredible list of events. From panel discussions to debate watch parties, from deliberative dialogues to chats over Facebook Live, there are so many ways for you to engage with voting. These events are free and open to all at Bellevue College, no matter your ability or inclination to vote. All times below are in Pacific Time.

Click the events below to find out more and register!

Time: 11:00am-1:00pm, Wednesday September 21 2022

Where: BC Fountain near C Building

Stop by the Volunteering and Voting Table at the Fall Get Involved Day to learn about various ways you can impact your community. Want to volunteer? Have to register to vote? This is the place to do both!

This event, organized by the Office of Student Engagement, will feature tables from other student organizations and services across campus. Representatives from all over campus will be tabling – hopefully on campus outside – to chat with you. So, come by and learn about voting and volunteering, and and while there, visit the other tables and learn about clubs and organizations, academic and professional programs, and cultural / identity groups.

Organizer: The Office of Student Engagement

Time: See below

Where: See below

Are you an American citizen 16 years or older, but you haven’t registered to vote yet? Are you not sure why you should vote, but would like to have a conversation about it?

The Voter Engagement Committee will be tabling across campus with registration forms and information. Come by and chat, and hopefully you can register to vote! You can find us:

  • 9am-10am: R Building (near the Café)
  • 11am-12pm: N Building (outside N250)
  • 1pm-2pm: H Building (near the Pizza Café)
  • 3pm-4pm: G Building (near the Fitness Center)
  • 5pm-6pm: T Building (near the Café)

Time: 4:30-5:30pm, Thursday September 29 2022

Where: Virtual (Register Below)

With election season underway, we invite you to join Facing History & Ourselves for a virtual conversation about the state of our democracy and civic education with Dr. Danielle Allen and Dr. Peter Levine. Both Dr. Allen and Dr. Levine are scholars, public policy experts, and national voices on the importance of civic engagement. Together we will explore the necessity of fostering active civic participation and ways we can work across differences and break down polarization to build a stronger democracy. Learn more here.

Dr. Danielle Allen is a seasoned leader, public policy and public affairs expert, national voice on pandemic response, and distinguished academic and author. She is the James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard, and the Director of Harvard’s Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics.

Dr. Peter Levine is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Lincoln Filene Professor of Citizenship & Public Affairs in Tufts University’s Jonathan Tisch College of Civic Life. Trained as a moral/political philosopher, Levine focuses on civic education, voting rights, public deliberation, and social movements.

Time: 6:30-8:00pm, Wednesday, October 12 2022

Where: KCTS9 Studio (401 Mercer Street Seattle, WA 98109) & Virtual

Election season is here and the choices we make will have a big impact on our state and the nation’s future. A panel of regional journalists join us for a preview of what’s at stake on the November ballot. Plus, we take a deep dive into the politics behind the quest for disability rights in the workplace. An issue often overlooked but one that truly affects all of us. Learn more about the panel and event, and register for the event.

Organized by the Seattle CityClub and Crosscut

Watch it streaming for $0-$10. Attend in person for $20.

Students who want to attend in person can register for free.

Time: 10:00am-11:00am, Thursday, October 27 2022

Where: Main Campus, C Building 120A/B

King County Elections is getting ready to process hundreds of thousands of ballots for the upcoming November 8 Election. Chief of Staff Kendall Hodson will provide an overview of the 2022 Midterm Election including ongoing hot topics like United States Postal Service concerns, security of ballot drop boxes and vote-by-mail, and what happens to your ballot as it goes through the process. She will also talk about their challenge to King County voters to turn out in midterm elections and what you need to do to make sure your voice is heard this November.
Moderator: Taylor Dalrymple, Bellevue College’s Adult Basic Education Department


Time: 11:30am-1:30pm, Monday October 31 2022

Where: C Building, near the Café

It’s Halloween! And it’s the last day to register to vote online or via mail…at least for these elections! Come by our table, get some candy, show off your costume, and vote in our very own referendum at the college! And of course, register to vote if you haven’t yet.

Time: 11:30am-12:30pm, Wednesday November 2 2022

Where: King County Elections (919 SW Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057)

King County Elections is getting ready to process more than a million ballots for the upcoming November 8 Election in a climate unlike any other in recent history. If you can, join us as we visit King County Elections in Renton to see how the ballots are processed and safeguarded.

NOTE: You will be responsible for arranging your own transportation to and from the Elections office.

Facilitator: Taylor Dalrymple, Bellevue College’s Adult Basic Education Department


Time: 11:00-1:30pm, Saturday, November 5 2022

Where: Virtual

Are you interested in discussing polarization on college campuses and in US politics? Feeling like you’re stuck in an echo chamber concerning discussions of free expression on campuses, electoral reform, or social media? Join a group of diverse students from all over the US for a facilitated online discussion on (1) Electoral Reforms AND/OR (2) Social Media and Campus Expression on November 5th & 6th at 11am-1:30pm Pacific Time (online)* Learn more about and register for the event.

Organized by Stanford’s Haas Center for Public Service and Deliberative Democracy Lab

Contact Sapan Parekh at service-learning@bellevuecollege.edu with any questions.

Time: 11:00-1:30pm, Sunday, November 6 2022

Where: Virtual

Are you interested in discussing polarization on college campuses and in US politics? Feeling like you’re stuck in an echo chamber concerning discussions of free expression on campuses, electoral reform, or social media? Join a group of diverse students from all over the US for a facilitated online discussion on (1) Electoral Reforms AND/OR (2) Social Media and Campus Expression on November 5th & 6th at 11am-1:30pm Pacific Time (online)* Learn more about and register for the event.

Organized by Stanford’s Haas Center for Public Service and Deliberative Democracy Lab

Contact Sapan Parekh at service-learning@bellevuecollege.edu with any questions.

Time: 12:30pm-1:30pm, Monday November 7 2022

Where: Main Campus D-106 AND Virtual

Have you thought about running for office, but didn’t because you worried you were too young?

Do you avoid voting in “off-year” local elections, or only vote for the “big” positions like President, Governor, Senator, etc.?

Are you curious about how you can make in impact in your local government?

At the age of 24, Paul Charbonneau was the youngest councilmember elected to serve the City of Newcastle. Hear what it took to get elected to the Newcastle City Council, as well as the process of putting ideas into action at the local municipal level. Councilmember Charbonneau will talk about the importance of down ballot voting (e.g. completing the entire ballot), off-year voting (e.g. voting in local elections), and how residents can influence the direction of their city leaders.

Moderator: Taylor Dalrymple, Bellevue College’s Adult Basic Education Department


Share the Message. Increase Voter Turnout!

The more people who vote, the better for everyone! Here are some simple things you can do to increase voter registration and encourage people to submit their ballots:

Round image with red and blue with white starts and bold "Vote!" in middle
Image designed by William Pugh, DMA 103 student

Download and share the fantastic images created by our Digital Media Arts students. Post them on social media with #BulldogImpact. Tag @bellevuecollege if using Instagram. If you have access to a color printer, consider posting the flyer in a window or somewhere your neighbors will see it.


Share Vote411 with your communities. They can use this site to check their voter registration status, learn about local issues and candidates, find polling places, discover local debates, and more. Organized by the League of Women Voters Education Fund.


Pledge to register three (3) new people. As long as someone is 16 years old and is a citizen, they are eligible to register. See the Voting FAQs tab for more details.


Pledge to convince ten (10) people to return their ballots by November 1 and/or turn out to vote on November 8. For the former, require that they send you a photo, by November 1, of their ballot stub or of themselves dropping the ballot into the mail or ballot box. For the latter, organize a group of 10 people (not including yourself) to wait in line together (with masks and social distancing) at the local polling place on November 8.


Take the Pledge with All In to Vote. Enter your information, and keep updated and get reminders to ensure that you vote. And, you can triple your pledge by encouraging three friends to vote. Check out the website for lots of information about elections and voting.


Add “Don’t forget to register to vote!” to your email signature.


Volunteer with a local, nonpartisan nonprofit focused on voter registration and get out the vote efforts. Reach out to BC’s RISE Learning Institute with any questions or to explore voter-focused volunteering opportunities at Bellevue College and across our communities.

Celebrate Your Vote on Social Media!

Post on social media a photo of you with your ballot stub and #BulldogImpact.
If posting on Instagram, feel free to tag @bellevuecollege on it so we can regram it!

Photo of person holding red ballot stub

Note: For security, cover up any information that might link to your ballot, including the QR code. Also, if you tag @bellevuecollege, we will not be able to regram it if your face is in it. So, consider posting a photo similar to this one!

Or, download any of the state’s “I Voted” stickers and post on social media with #BulldogImpact. Tag @bellevuecollege if using Instagram. To download, right click on the image of your choice and save it.

White and red circle with blue star in middle that says "I VOTED"

Last Updated August 2, 2023