From Our Corner

R-71 petition challenge heading back to court

Image Protect Marriage Washington, gay-marriage opponents who forced a public vote on the state's new domestic partnership law last November, are heading back to court to try to ban public release of the 138,000 names of people who signed Referendum 71 petitions. The U.S… Read more

Budget crisis update: Senate greenlights aid

Image Just as Washington was girding for a nasty special legislative session or across-the-board spending cuts by Governor Gregoire, Congress may at long last be riding to the rescue. The U.S. Senate voted 61-38 in a key test vote Wednesday to jump-start… Read more

Initiatives: Why we do random checks

Image After more than three weeks, the State Elections Division’s signature checkers last week finished their work on the six initiatives that were submitted this summer. As expected, all six have… Read more

The story behind our military voting waiver request

Image In recent days, our office has received some inquiries about a… Read more

From Your Corner of Washington: Enumclaw, Scottish Highland Games

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Photograph courtesy of Ben Helle.

This past weekend, Enumclaw held the 64th Annual Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland Games and Clan Gathering. Former Secretary of State Ralph Munro was the emcee of the event, wearing his Munro… Read more

Clippings, July 23, 2010

WA State Library News Since 2002, Jan Walsh has led the Washington State Library (WSL) through a turbulent period of budget and staff reductions while witnessing increased usage by the public, especially online. Her days as State Librarian and director of WSL are coming to an end soon. Walsh recently announced her retirement. Her last day on the job is August 31. (Secretary of State Online, 7.28.10) http://… Read more

Countdown to the November 8th Day of Jubilation - Part 3

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Reed predicts 38 percent turnout; now, do your part

Ballots are in the mail for the August 17 Primary Election. Image… Read more

`Election for the Ages' chronicles '04 gov's election

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Secretary of State Sam Reed and author Trova Heffernan photographed during the book launch for "An Election for the Ages: Rossi vs. Gregoire, 2004." Photo courtesy of Ben Helle.… Read more

Digital Archives’ website honored again

The Washington State Digital Archives once again has been recognized by Family Tree Magazine by being mentioned in its latest issue as one of the 101 Best Free Websites for 2010. Image… Read more

Reed touts progress on presidential primary reform

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WA Secretary of State Sam Reed says he's increasingly optimistic that the national Democratic and Republican parties will move the 2012 presidential primary season to later in the calendar. Reed, a national leader… Read more

WSL Updates for July 29, 2010

Volume 6, July 29, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) UPDATED WSL HARD TIMES GUIDE

2) LESSONS LEARNED FROM RENEW WASHINGTON

3) EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE AND RECOVERY

4) CORE REFERENCE SKILLS ONLINE COURSE

5) LYRASIS TO BCR TRANSITION TALK

6) SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR FUNDRAISERS

7) PREPARE AND RESPOND - PARTNERING WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

8) ARCHIVED PRESENTATIONS

… Read more

Seattle Public Friends Win Award for Social Media Strategy

The Friends of the Seattle Public Library recently won a Baker & Taylor Award from the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF) and with it a $1000 check and plaque to honor their achievements. In 2009, the Friends, under took a successful campaign using social media and other tools and executed a year-long strategy to educate the city… Read more

Initiative checks done, I-1107 qualifies

Image The state Elections Division announced Wednesday afternoon that sponsors for Initiative 1107 submitted enough voter signatures to make the November ballot. Secretary of State Sam Reed is… Read more

From Your Corner of Washington: North Fork Palouse River

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The North Fork Palouse River seen from the McDonald Farm.

Photo submitted by Patrick McDonald

We invite you to e-mail your photos and stories to us as part of an ongoing feature called… Read more

Another initiative hurdle cleared

Image Monday is the beginning of the signature check for Initiative 1107, the last of six initiatives submitted to the Secretary of State’s Elections Division earlier this summer. I-1107 would repeal new taxes on candy, pop, beer and bottled water. The 1107 sig check… Read more

Booze on ballot: Make it a double

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Gregoire makes Top 50 `politicos to watch' list

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, a White House favorite, makes the Top 50 `politicos to watch' list' just released by the beltway insiders' chatty Politico. As you'll recall, Gregoire has been mentioned for a variety of cabinet… Read more

Countdown to the November 8th Day of Jubilation -Part 2

Image In October of 1871, prominent national suffrage advocate Susan B. Anthony traveled to Washington Territory and became the first woman to address the Washington Territorial Legislature. Anthony and Oregon suffragist Abigail Scott… Read more

Clippings, July 16, 2010

Library News A collection of self-published magazines, or zines, found a roost on the third floor of the Community Building last week. With a collection of 150 titles, the Bird's Nest Zine Library is Spokane's only zine lending library. The library was started by two Spokane women, Lindsae Williams and Allynn Carpenter. (Photo) (Spokesman Review [Spokane], 7.3.10) http://www.spokesman.com/… Read more