Seattle television stations and our local radio station here in Bellingham have been running public service announcements urging voters to get to the polls on Election Day.
Swell. A good and patriotic thing to do. Except in those 37 Washington counties where there are no polls to get to on Election Day. Only in King and Pierce counties will the polls be open. The rest of us are supposed to have mailed it in.
Whatcom County Auditor Shirley Forslof says her office had a number of calls from citizens who threw away their mail ballots, preferring to go to the polls in person. She's trying to get out the word: Don't throw away your mail ballot, fer Pete's sake. If you've already tossed it, or can't find it for some (less embarrassing) reason, you can get a replacement at the Auditor's Office at 311 Grand in downtown Bellingham through 8 p.m. Tuesday. Election officers in other counties have made similar arrangements. You'll need some identification.
You don't need to feel silly about having thrown your ballot away in the most historic election since Hoover vs. Roosevelt. But you might try to wear matching socks to the auditor's office, and look normally intelligent.
