The 2023 general election is just days away (ballots must be in ballot drop boxes or postmarked by Tuesday, November 7) and polls indicate that from Seattle to Spokane there are many extremely close local races which one determined voter could easily make a difference.

These local races are vitally important to our everyday life. They will decide who direct our city and county governments, lead our law enforcement, and serve on our school boards. They will determine public safety policies and how to respond to the homeless and drug crises. These local officials will select what is taught to our students and where shopping centers and parks are located. 

Since you are reading this message, we know you are an informed voter. Chances are you have already filled in your ballot and either mailed it to your county election office or dropped it in one of the nearly 600 ballot drop boxes located across the state.

Yet you can do more.

As the folks at We Heart Seattle say, “Voting is your Superpower.” You can flex your superpower by taking a few minutes to encourage just a few family members, friends, or neighbors to return their ballot. Doing so could determine an election.

History shows that only 40% of registered voters return their ballots in off-year elections in Washington State. This minority of voters will determine who will set the priorities and determine the course of your local government. We cannot afford to again give this responsibility to the zealous extremists who often dominate local elections. 

You and others who believe in common sense, responsible solutions must be the ones who determine the 2023 elections. As a new video from We Heart Seattle revealed, there is a growing coalition which has come together to make positive changes. Cutting across party, economic, racial, and religious backgrounds, these voters are working for sensible solutions to our crime, drug, and homeless problems.

We have already seen a slight shift away from the irresponsible direction radically progressive elected officials took in 2020 and 2021 when they passed anti-police and drug-decriminalization policies. We must continue to keep the momentum going away from those dangerous public policy failures and return commonsense to our laws.

It is not an understatement to say 2023 could be the most important off-year election for decades. We are truly at a crossroads and your efforts could determine the course our government takes as we move forward.

In every election there are close races which significantly alter how a local government responds to a major issue. 

In 2019 fewer than 850 voters determined who would be the Mayor of Spokane where the candidates had opposing views on public safety, homelessness, and taxes. As we have seen, this election determined how local government responded to state officials allowing a large homeless encampment (which “residents” called “Lord of the Flies on drugs” due to brutal violence) to grow on Washington State Department of Transportation property.

In 2021 less than a couple of percentage points determined that an extreme anti-police activist was not suited to prosecute criminals as Seattle City Attorney. Instead, this close election was won by a moderate attorney who has already implemented many common sense solutions to Seattle’s skyrocketing crime rates and led the effort to pass and enforce responsible drug possession laws.

The election next week will also determine how local government responds to the problems faced during the next four years.

Please do at least one of the following and help be part of the solution.

• Call, text, or talk to five people and remind them to turn in their ballot.
• Send an email to 20 people about why you believe voting is important this year.
• Post on social media a short message reminding your followers to vote.
• Volunteer to assist a local candidate’s Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) activities.

You can include a link to the ballot drop box locations.

Please take the time to encourage others to join you in being part of the solution by voting next week. 

Let’s make 2023 the year we can look back upon as being the time voters demanded common sense and responsibility to return to our government. Together, we can make this happen!