Friday, October 2, 2026
The Olympia City Council celebrated National Voter Registration Day by strongly defending mail-in voting and voter accessibility, directly challenging national efforts to restrict voting methods.
At a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, the city council proclaimed Sept. 16, 2025 as National Voter Registration Day in Olympia. The goal is to create awareness of elections and motivate eligible residents to vote in the coming months.
Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne addressed national efforts to restrict mail-in voting, saying that such attempts are “to sow doubt in the integrity of our elections.”
The mayor emphasized that election laws are determined by state legislatures and Congress, not by executive orders issued by the president. He stressed that security experts have consistently confirmed the reliability of mail-in voting.
Payne also highlighted Washington state’s voting policies, including same-day registration, automatic voter registration, preregistration for 16 year olds and 17 year olds, and restoration of voting rights for some people with felony convictions.
“Those are important for us. … We recognized that it is in the best interest of having as many people as possible participate in our elections, so that we have a more representative government — that is something that we should all want," Payne said.
Mayor Pro Tem Yen Huynh talked about the state’s multiple voting options, including mail-in ballots, in-person voting and numerous ballot drop boxes as a significant privilege.
She said national efforts to restrict the ability to vote by mail indicate the system’s fundamental importance.
“If it wasn’t important, people wouldn’t be trying to take it away," Huynh said.
She urged residents to expand voter participation by helping others register and educating them about voting options.
Thurston County Election Technician Jack Mongin shared statistics during the council meeting. He noted the county has surpassed 200,000 registered voters, with Olympia leading with 38,591 registered voters. He added that in the last November General Election, 31,786 Olympians voted, achieving an 82.4% voter turnout.
Mongin emphasized the accessibility of voter registration, pointing out that individuals can register online at vote.wa.gov.
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TheVirtualOne
Voter registration in the State of Washington is completely and fundamentally flawed. Anyone with a state ID or driver’s license can register to vote. Unfortunately, the Department of Licensing gives these licenses and ID cards to ANYONE, without requiring any proof of citizenship. That makes the whole voting system in the state a fraud.
Thursday, September 11, 2025 Report this
KatAshe
I take umbrage with TheVirtualOne. Washington state is recognized as have one of the safest voter registration rules in place. Also one of the very safest for having votes counted.
I dare him to provide full information on just 5 individuals in entire state of Washington who have voted illegally. Interestingly, across the entire United States, the vast majority of illegal votes are committed by republicans, not foreign nationals.
Thursday, September 11, 2025 Report this
Freebird
“to sow doubt in the integrity of our elections.” Mail in ballots can be tampered with much easier than paper ballots.
Thursday, September 11, 2025 Report this
TheVirtualOne
To KatAshe. Neither you nor I can do what you ask, and you know that. No one is given access to such information because it is “protected” by law. A court order is the only way that would ever be provided. The DOJ has requested that information and the Secretary of State will fight it tooth and nail. We will find out in about 14 days who wins. My point has nothing to do with political parties, yet your comments are trying to turn it into a political game. My point is about what kind of identification is necessary to register, which is the foundation of the system. It has been widely publicized and recognized that Washington issues drivers licenses to non-citizens. The best example has been all over the news recently. The illegal Florida truck driver who killed three people recently had a Washington commercial driver’s license (CDL). Not from this country, spoke no English, and could not read the road signs. Why did Washington DOL issue him a CDL? This is just one example. The DOL has gone dark in the last few months because they know that this common practice of theirs will finally have light brought to it in the near future. Your opinion about Washington being recognized as having one of the safest for voter registration is irrelevant and totally unsupported by any evidence. The only way to verify that the system is working properly is to perform an audit of the data that shows proof of citizenship and no one in the current administration would ever allow that to happen as it would validate everything I’m saying. I speak with legitimate insider knowledge about this, not just an opinion.
Thursday, September 11, 2025 Report this
CobraCommander
TheVirtualOne - Take your meds
Thursday, September 11, 2025 Report this
JulesJames
Motor-Voter is a flawed concept. Voting has absolutely nothing to do with driving. Same-day registration and voting is ripe for fraud, or at least ignorant voters swayed by interests other than thoughtful good governance. Dump both. But vote-by-mail is actually far fairer and safer than polling stations. Polling station voting can be disrupted by bad weather, long lines, bomb threats - just about anything. Polling station results must be tabulated by machines scattered across the county and electronically transmitted by common carrier. Vote-by-mail results cannot be controlled by freak Election Day incidents and results are tabulated by a centralized computer unconnected to the Internet.
Thursday, September 11, 2025 Report this
TheVirtualOne
CobraCommander - Said the man in the peanut gallery. Ever make a legitimate comment here or just throw rocks with ridiculous comments like this one? Show us you have a brain. I dare you…
Yeah, that’s what I thought. Appears you’re looking in the mirror at yourself holding your bottle of meds.
Thursday, September 11, 2025 Report this
CobraCommander
TheVirtualOne - you just spewed a word salad instead of presenting cases of voter fraud as KatAshe asked.
If you cannot provide facts, then don't resort to lies and deflection.
Friday, September 12, 2025 Report this
TheVirtualOne
CobraCommander. The facts are there. DOL issues drivers licenses to anyone. Proof - Florida truck driver. Voter registration can be accomplished by anyone who has a driver’s license. Proof - read the voter registration requirements. The voter registration system has been compromised by DOL. The way to fix it is to require voters get an Enhanced driver’s license which requires proof of citizenship.
Friday, September 12, 2025 Report this
LindaFretts
I highly recommend that anyone who doubts the security of the Washington State voting system volunteer as an Observer during voting collecting and counting. You will see (as I did) the extreme caution and care in validating with multiple checks and reviews all ballots submitted. It is also possible to view the process on camera through the county live video feeds. By volunteering and attending in person, you are able to ask questions during the process.
Friday, September 12, 2025 Report this
TheVirtualOne
LindaFretts. I think you are likely correct about the counting process in our state. We’re much better than most in that category. That’s not the real concern I have. The voting system must be built on a strong foundation. That foundation is the registration process, which is where the problems arise, as I have mentioned above. The voter registration system requires only a drivers license to register, and there is no verification of citizenship required for that by DOL, except for the Enhanced Driver’s License. Thus, our voter registration system in this state is built on sand, a house of cards, use whatever metaphor you wish. We should all want a voter registration system that is solid as a rock. Unfortunately, that has been undermined by our own state’s Department of Licensing via the issuing of drivers licenses to non-citizens. How much fraud is there based on this? No one really knows for sure. That’s why DOL must stop issuing licenses to non-citizens, and voter registration requirements should include verification of citizenship.
Friday, September 12, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
Democracy is stupid. Only thing we should vote for is the sheriff.
Friday, September 12, 2025 Report this