Facebook helps spread the word: Register to vote!

Facebook has launched an internet drive to prompt people to register to vote, including many in Washington. From Friday through Monday, Sept. 26, people on Facebook who are 18 and older will get a reminder at the top of their news feed urging them to get registered to vote – or if they already are registered, to remind their FB friends to do so. Secretary of State Kim Wyman, the state’s chief elections official, said Washington could set a single-day registration record. The previous spike, also prompted by Facebook, was 13,109 on March 18. The previous high-water mark was 12,655 on Oct. 8, 2012, ahead of that year’s registration deadline. This year’s deadline for online and mail registration is Oct. 10. Wyman noted we’ve been celebrating September as National Voter Registration Month and this coming Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day, and added:

“We are delighted to partner with Facebook and welcome every single eligible person to sign up.”

State Elections Director Lori Augino said social media are a powerful way to reach potential voters, including millennials. She also noted that the state is sending out postcards to 140,000 Washington residents who appear to be eligible, inviting them to go online and register. Ballots went out to about 72,000 military and overseas voters this week, and can be cast right away. Ballots for the rest of the 4.1 million voters go out by Oct. 21 and are due back by drop box by 8 p.m. Nov. 8, or by mail with a postmark of Nov. 8.