📱 Did the mayor text you, too?

You’ve Got Voting Questions? We’ve Got Answers

First off, per our newsletter last week, make sure you mail your ballot early, if you’re mailing, as the rules around postmarks have made postmark dates less reliable. You can also drop off your ballot anytime before election day.

• But, Liam, where are the ballot boxes? Excellent question. Your neighborhood library probably has one. Here’s the link to find the box closest to you!
• I forgot to register. Is it too late? No! Well, by the time this newsletter goes out, it will be too late to do so online, but you can visit an election office or vote center up to and on election day to register to vote in person. Just pay close attention to when they are open.
• How can I make sure my ballot was counted? Easy, my civically engaged friend. Track your ballot here.

Who should I vote for? Here’s a voting guide from The Stranger, Seattle Times, Seattle Transit Blog, Washington 4 Peace and Justice, and the City of Seattle. Do your research, Seattle!

💬 Harrell is Sliding Into Our DMs: Did you all receive a text from Bruce Harrell over the weekend? Looks like the Harrell campaign is going on the offensive with this article KUOW published about Katie Wilson’s parents helping her out with childcare.

🔢 Bruce May Also Be Sliding in the Polls: A bunch of polls released late last week and over the weekend suggest that favorability is on Wilson’s side, and Harrell’s job performance approval is at 36%. Yikes. But he may pick up some ground among undecided voters. [Seattle Times]

🏠 Affordable Housing Way Behind Plan: Affordable housing is a major issue in this election, and it’s not where it should be. Not even close. According to the Seattle Times, at its current pace, King County will only build 70,000 units, a third of its goal. It also needs $4 billion a year to bridge the gap. [Seattle Times]

🏙️ Parent and Student’s Rights Bill Hit by Lawsuit: HB 1296, a house bill which Gov. Ferguson signed into law in May and lawmakers say is intended to protect vulnerable students, has been hit by a lawsuit from conservative school board directors and parents. The suit claims the bill undermines the rights of parents to raise their children without state interference. This is about to get complicated. Stay with me.

• The bill was extremely contentious during this year's legislative session because Republicans argued that it undermines Initiative 2081, which lawmakers passed last year.
• This initiative enshrined certain rights for public school parents: think things like reviewing classroom materials, obtaining medical records, and opting students out of assignments involving questions about sexual experiences or their family’s religious beliefs.
• These bills are at the center of a debate about LGBTQ+ students and how they are protected by the schools they attend.
• If the group is successful, this new measure could end up before voters in 2026. [Washington State Standard]

🏢 Amazon to Lay Off 30,000 Corporate Employees: Amazon is scaling back the number of employees working in various departments, including human resources, devices, and operations. It is unclear what percentage will be Seattle-based. Overhiring during the pandemic appears to be the main reason, but CEO Andy Jasse also wants to reduce the amount of bureaucracy and continue to prop up AI. Those affected will be emailed this morning. [Reuters]

🌮 Support Your Local Taco Stand: The Stranger has this fantastic piece about Osiel and Reynaldo “Rey” Gastelum making delicious Sinaloan-style tacos. Both spent years in fine dining, but decided to launch a taco spot, which made their dad extremely proud. They’re doing a Kickstarter to raise funds for permits and operating costs. There are just 2 days left to support! [The Stranger]