📬 WA voting could change

Supreme Court Decision Could Impact WA Vote-By-Mail

Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could put an end to counting ballots received after Election Day. The Supreme Court’s decision – which is expected this summer – could upend our state’s mail-in voting systems months before this fall’s midterm elections. [Seattle Times]

• What Are WA’s Current Mail-In Ballot Rules? During our state’s general election, a ballot postmarked on or before Election Day can be received up to 20 days after the election and still count. At least 17 other states and territories also count ballots that arrive through the mail after Election Day, as long as they’re postmarked on or before it.
• How Could The Supreme Court Change Things? If the court rules against the extra time, voters will have to cast their ballots earlier, and Washington will have to overhaul its ballot-counting system. The Washington State Republican Party supports an earlier ballot deadline and is pushing to eventually end mail voting altogether in the state.
• How Will This Impact Voters? Out of WA’s 5 million registered voters, about 4 million ballots were returned by mail in 2024 — and about half of these were returned on Election Day or the day before. Younger voters tend to turn in their ballots later and are likely to be more heavily impacted by this ruling.

📸 Photobooths: There are only about 200 working analog booths remaining globally. Fortunately, digital and analog photobooths co-exist throughout Seattle’s bars and venues. I spoke to one Seattleite who set out to take self-portraits in every one of Seattle’s 30 photobooths to get the inside scoop on where they are and which ones are worth seeking out. [Sam for City Cast Seattle]

☕ Coffee Shops: Everyone is their own kind of coffee snob in Seattle. Ashley is the kind who will try absolutely anything, and who gets genuinely excited about receiving the perfect iced americano. Disclaimer that this could absolutely never be comprehensive enough for what Seattle has to offer; these are just her current favorites across the city — including everything from a seaweed latte to a cardamom tonic. [Ashley for City Cast Seattle]

📚 Bookstores: Seattle is a town of nerds (including us), so it’s no wonder that we have a plethora of fantastic bookstores. Here’s a list of a few of Jane’s favorites, organized by where you should read, where you should sell, and where you should definitely use the bathroom. [Jane for City Cast Seattle]

🍿 Movie Theaters: Seattle is a total movie town, not only with a great history of films made here but with some real movie fans and great places to both rent and watch. As Liam’s been visiting many new (to him) local theaters here, here’s a guide for the un- or under- initiated. [Liam for City Cast Seattle]