As Elections approach, it is important to know that both housed and unhoused Clark County residents can vote!
The 2023 Primary Election is coming up on August 1st, and it’s important to register and vote in the Primary. The August Primary Election will determine who makes it through to the general election this coming November. Local elected policymakers have a big influence on homelessness, and it’s important to have a say in who to vote for come November.
A person can register to vote and vote in person at the Clark County Elections office located at 1408 Franklin Street, Vancouver. The office is open 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, and 7am to 8pm on Election Day.
Even if a person does not have a traditional residential address, they can still register to vote! A residential address is the physical location where one spends most of their time.
On a voter registration form, a person can use the address of a shelter or park or the location of a vehicle, intersection, or other identifiable location that they consider their current residence, even if it’s not a traditional residential address. This location is required and will be used to determine which precinct a person will vote in.
Along with a residential address, someone must also provide a valid mailing address. They need a mailing address in order to receive their ballot and election information by mail. They could use a post office box, address of a friend or relative, shelter, day center, or any place where they can get mail, or general delivery at a local post office.
“People just need a landmark near where they stay”, according to Laura Ellsworth, Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy Manager of the Council for the Homeless. “For example, someone could use 6th and Daniels as their intersection if this is near where they stay at night.”
When registering to vote in person, a home address or state ID is not needed. The County Elections Office will ask for the last four digits of a Social Security number to run against the federal database. If the last four digits of a social security number can’t be provided, the voter can provide their date of birth and attest to being a U.S. citizen, a Washington resident, and an eligible voter, under penalty of perjury.
According to the Clark County elections website, to register to vote in Washington, one must be:
- A citizen of the United States.
- A legal resident of Washington state.
- At least 18 years old by Election Day.
- Not disqualified from voting due to a court order.
- Not under Department of Corrections supervision for a Washington felony conviction.
People with past felony convictions, but who are not currently under Department of Corrections supervision may vote.
View the full Voter’s Guide here. It is essential that everyone who is eligible to vote knows they have a say about the policies and people who can impact their daily lives.
Once your vote is cast, check to see if it’s been counted by visiting www.votewa.gov.
Every vote matters!
If you’re a homelessness service provider, check out these voting resources!
