Thurston hails September 20 National Voter Registration Day

The Thurston Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) officially proclaimed Tuesday, September 20, National Voter Registration Day.

The board said the proclamation shows that Thurston County is committed to strengthening democracy by encouraging citizens to register and participate in the elections.

"The strength of our democracy depends on the willingness of the people to participate," the board's proclamation read.

County Auditor Mary Hall said there are currently around 194,000 registered voters in Thurston County, and they are trying to engage more residents before the election. 

Hall said the biggest goal for this year is to reach the young people as only about 70% of the 18 to 20 years old are registered to vote.

Hall added that voters who turned 18 before the elections could now vote in the primary for the first time.

She also thanked the BOCC for supporting the 9th year of National Voter Registration Day in Thurston County, adding that this effort helped increase "awareness of the importance of registering and participating in our democratic process."

"Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy," said Hall.

Residents can register to vote online, by mail, or in person at the Thurston County Auditor's Office, located in Room 106, Building 1 of the County Courthouse.

To register to vote, one must be:

• A citizen of the United States.
• Residing at your current address for a minimum of 30 days before Election Day.
• A legal resident of Washington state.
• At least 18 years old by Election Day. If you are 16 years old, you can preregister to vote.

You can confirm your voter registration status online or by calling the Auditor's Elections team at 360-786-5408.

You may visit the Auditor's page for more election-related information.