Register to Vote

Register to vote, check, or change your registration information at VoteWA.gov.

Get Your Ballot

Ballots are mailed 3 weeks before Election Day. If you haven’t received yours call 360-778-5100 or email auditor@co.whatcom.wa.us. You can also vote in person at the Auditor’s office.

2026 Endorsed Candidates

• Congressional District 2: Rick Larsen

• 42nd Legislative District Senate: Michael Shepard and Eamonn Collins (dual endorsement)

• Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney: Jesse Corkern

• Port of Bellingham District 4: Tor Benson

• Whatcom Public Utility District 1: Eddy Ury

• Washington State Supreme Court: Colleen Melody (Pos. 1), Jaime Hawk (Pos. 3), Ian Birk and Sean O’Donnell (Pos. 4), Theo Angelis (Pos. 5), Debra Stephens (Pos. 7)

2026 Ballot Measures

• Endorsed: Bellingham Initiative 26-01; No on IL 26-001; No on IL 26-645

• Failed to meet the threshold to be endorsed: No on IL 26-638

2026 Pre-Primary Endorsed Candidates

• Legislative District 40, Position 1: Debra Lekanoff

• Legislative District 40, Position 2: Alex Ramel

• Legislative District 42, Position 1: Alicia Rule

• Legislative District 42, Position 2: Joe Timmons

• Port of Bellingham, District 4: Samantha Cruz-Mendoza

• Port of Bellingham, District 5: Chris Elder

2025 Endorsed Candidates

• Barry Buchanan, Whatcom County Council At-Large (winner)

• Kaylee Galloway, Whatcom County Council District 1 (winner)

• Elizabeth Boyle, Whatcom County Council District 2 (winner)

• Jessica Rienstra, Whatcom County Council District 3 (winner)

• Jace Cotton, Bellingham City Council At-Large (winner)

• Michael Lilliquist, Bellingham City Council Ward 6 (winner)

• Eric Lewis, Blaine City Council Ward 1, Position 2

• Ian Harper, Ferndale City Council Position 6

• Michael Shepard, Port of Bellingham District 1 (winner)

• Carly James, Port of Bellingham District 2 (winner)

• Jenn Mason, Bellingham School Board Position 4 (winner)

• Jim Shaver, Blaine School Board District 3

• Jasmine Fast, Meridian School Board (winner)

Ballot Box Locations

Use a ballot box to ensure your ballot is counted. Ballots are collected by the Auditor’s staff daily, and there is no delay and no risk of the ballot not getting postmarked on Election Day.

• Bellingham: Whatcom Courthouse South Parking Lot, 247 Grand Ave.

• Bellingham: Regal Barkley Village Parking Lot, 3005 Cinema Pl.

• Bellingham: Sehome Haggen, 210 36th St., NE corner of parking lot

• Bellingham: Whatcom Community College, 620 W Kellogg Rd.

• Bellingham: WWU, Red Square, outside Bond Hall

• Bellingham: WWU, Student Engagement Hub, 516 High St. (November General Election Day only)

• Bellingham: WWU, outside Wade King Student Recreation Center, 1880 Bill McDonald Pkwy.

• Acme Elementary, 5200 Turkington Rd.

• Blaine Library, 610 3rd St.

• Birch Bay: North Whatcom Fire & Rescue, 4581 Birch Bay-Lynden Rd.

• Custer Elementary, 7660 Custer School Rd.

• Deming Library, 5044 Mt. Baker Hwy.

• Everson WECU, 106 E Main St.

• Ferndale City Hall, 2095 Main St.

• Lummi Nation Admin Building, 2665 Kwina Rd.

• Lynden Library, 216 4th St.

• Meridian: Laurel Grange, 6172 Guide Meridian

• Kendall: North Fork Community Library, 7506 Kendall Rd.

• Point Roberts Marketplace, 480 Tyee Dr. (inside; contact the store for hours)

• Sumas, 534 Railroad Ave.

• Sudden Valley, Security Turnaround, Gate One

Running for Office

The Whatcom Democrats’ Candidates Committee works year-round recruiting and talking to prospective candidates. If you are considering running for office, your first stop should be talking to us. We can help you understand the process and requirements and help you decide if you are committed to do the work necessary to be elected, such as fundraising calls and door-belling.

When the committee explains the efforts needed, some prospective candidates decide they are not prepared to run at this time. One of the biggest challenges for the committee is convincing people that getting elected is possible, that they can grow into the public role, and that the party will provide support.

Official candidate filing is done during a one-week period in May of each year. Contact the County Auditor for specific information.

Party Endorsement and Certification

A special meeting of the membership of the Whatcom County Democratic Central Committee will be held prior to Primary Elections to give candidates an opportunity to present their case for endorsement. Candidates who wish to be considered for endorsement must request this at least 72 hours in advance of this meeting. Members in good standing vote on endorsements.

Democratic candidates may be able to access party resources prior to endorsement if they request and receive Certification as a Democrat. See our Certification and Endorsement Rules page for details.

Difference Between Party Endorsement and Party Nomination

A political party endorsement is a statement of support of a candidate for public office. It is also an internal policy decision saying where the organization’s resources will be spent. It is no different than a PTA, voter’s league, or labor union picking which candidates they want to support and work for. This is why we require membership in the Whatcom Democrats in order to vote on our endorsement decisions.

A party endorsement has no direct effect on which candidates may run for office. Endorsement does not decide which candidates qualify for the general election ballot, the way a party nomination normally would.

State election law governs the rules of the Primary Election, and currently, in Washington State, primary elections are run like non-partisan primaries, advancing the top two vote-getters to the General Election ballot, regardless of party affiliation. Primaries in Washington for partisan offices do not constitute a party nomination process. Only voters casting a ballot in a Primary Election have the power to eliminate, or advance, a candidate to the general election ballot.