Vote Tina Podlodowski: Your Fun Aunt for WA Secretary of State

To begin, here are some things I believe Tina Podlodowski, Fun Aunt of Ballots, would want me to point out:

• The Washington primary is AUGUST 2ND, 2016. That’s in a few short days, kids!
• If you have a ballot, fill it out and drop it off at one of our ballot drop-off locations.
• If you didn’t receive a ballot, did receive one but lost it, or did receive it but spilled water on it, print off a replacement here under MyBallot.

Whew! Okay, so: Washington Secretary of State. What does the SecState even do? Well, they’re not responsible for diplomatic outreach to Portland. The WA Secretary of State does a bunch of things, but the one most people care about is serving as our chief elections officer.

Right now, Washington’s Secretary of State is Republican Kim Wyman. She’s the only Republican to hold statewide office in Washington, and if you don’t believe there’s a difference between Democrats and Republicans, here’s a sobering one between Wyman and Podlodowski: Podlodowski supports the Washington Voting Rights Act, while Wyman does not.

(She doesn’t OPPOSE it anymore, as she did in 2012. She just won’t endorse it. Thanks, Kim!)

But the differences don’t stop there! Podlodowski also supports inventive, specific solutions for expanding voter outreach, like texting voters with reminders and instructions, and shifting Washington voting to an online system like the one already in place for active military and citizens living abroad. Specifically, Podlodowski notes that disability rights activists have requested more robust accommodations in voting. Her vision for Washington’s voters also includes the 1.5 eligible voters who are currently unregistered, mostly “women, young people, from communities of color, recently naturalized citizens and those making less than $50,000 a year.”

In the other corner, Wyman urges caution in expanding voter access, warning that email may be unsafe because of reasons even though we cheerfully allow members of the armed services to vote that way. This is a weirdly anti-tech stance for a Secretary of State to take in Washington, home of the new Silicon Valley. It is unclear whether Wyman believes that cameras can steal your soul, but I recommend asking her via Twitter.

Here is a clip of the two candidates debating on King 5:

Now the real question: Why did I refer to Tina Podlodowski as “your fun aunt”?

Because she’s so fun! She shows up to everybody else’s campaign events and looks so thrilled to be there! Barbecues, fish fries, Pride marches, whatever, Tina’s there. And although she’s a mom, some people are just fun aunts, you know? I know that’s my destiny, for sure.

In conclusion, Podlodowski possesses a stellar combination of inspiring energy and forward-thinking ideas that are exactly what we need in Washington. Vote Tina Podlodowski.

P.S. Learn more about Tina and her numerous endorsements on her website.