Julie Wise for King County Director of Elections

As a country, we are at a critical juncture in our democracy. It’s astonishing that - at a time when we have more information than ever at our fingertips - we face one of the most profound crises in our country’s history. When I started my second term as King County Elections’ Director in 2019 I never could have imagined how much time my team and I would spend combatting election lies and efforts to disenfranchise voters. I’ve been accused of rigging elections, throwing away ballots, and literally committing felonies. We’ve fought off voter intimidation efforts, answered thousands of calls and emails about election fraud, and worked every single day to ensure every voter has the opportunity to make their voice heard. And there’s nowhere I’d rather be. 

Since I was first elected in 2015 I have been unapologetically focused on making sure our elections are secure, accessible, and run by well-trained professionals. I’ve brought in experts from the Department of Homeland Security and CISA (the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) to audit our practices and provide advice on how we can improve. I’ve increased the number of ballot drop boxes in King County from 10 to nearly 80. I’ve advocated down in Olympia and in front of Congress to ensure Washingtonians and all Americans have access to their right to vote. I’ve partnered with the leaders of both political parties to ensure we have consistent, bipartisan oversight of our elections. And I’ve developed an incredible team of election administrators who don’t go home until absolutely every ballot has been counted and accounted for.   

I know you share my concern about the state of truth and elections in our country today. It’s hard to turn on the news without hearing about leaders and pundits denying election results and sowing distrust in our institutions. Many of us have faced broken relationships, feared for our safety, and suffered significant anxiety about the future as a result of these continued lies. The good news is our democracy is exceptionally strong in King County and we must continue to be an example for the rest of the country. I remain steadfast in my commitment to putting voters and democracy first, and I’m asking for your support in my re-election campaign for King County Director of Elections.