League of Women Voters, Goodwill partner to help voters on National Voter Registration Day

By Matthew Nash • September 18, 2024 2:30 pm
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Volunteers Barbara VanderWerf and Maren Halverson with the League of Women Voters of Clallam County speak with a customer at Sequim Goodwill about ballot information on Sept. 17 during an information session held in conjunction with the stores in Sequim and Port Angeles on National Voter Registration Day.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Volunteers Barbara VanderWerf and Maren Halverson with the League of Women Voters of Clallam County speak with a customer at Sequim Goodwill about ballot information on Sept. 17 during an information session held in conjunction with the stores in Sequim and Port Angeles on National Voter Registration Day.

League of Women Voters of Clallam County members partnered with Goodwill stores in Sequim and Port Angeles on Sept. 17 for National Voter Registration Day to answer locals’ questions about the upcoming general election and voting process.

For four hours, League members worked at tables in both stores answering many questions and registering one person to vote in Sequim.

League member Stephanie Sherman said they expected a low registration total as Clallam County already has a high percentage of people already registered.

“It was about visibility and reminding people that ‘their voice is their vote,” she said.

“For our first time out, I thought it went really well.”

Sherman said they learned of Goodwill partnering with other groups to hold nonpartisan registration events in Washington state and that they were willing partners in Clallam County, too.

League members at both stores answered a multitude of questions about the election process, and referred most people to votewa.gov for more information.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Volunteers, from left, Barbara VanderWerf, Maren Halverson and JP Persall with the League of Women Voters of Clallam County answered questions at Sequim Goodwill about voter registration, ballots and more on Sept. 17 during an information session held in conjunction with the stores in Sequim and Port Angeles on National Voter Registration Day. Persall they are a nonpartisan group and merely help people vote, not tell them how to vote.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Volunteers, from left, Barbara VanderWerf, Maren Halverson and JP Persall with the League of Women Voters of Clallam County answered questions at Sequim Goodwill about voter registration, ballots and more on Sept. 17 during an information session held in conjunction with the stores in Sequim and Port Angeles on National Voter Registration Day. Persall they are a nonpartisan group and merely help people vote, not tell them how to vote.

Sherman said people can update their name, address, and more on the website, and also register to receive text messages to follow their ballot through the tabulation process.

According to League members, National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan event held each September through the efforts of more than 4,000 national and community partners from all across the country working to raise awareness of voter registration resources and opportunities.

The League of Women Voters is a national nonpartisan, non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the informed and active participation of citizens in government.

JP Persall with the League’s booth in Sequim said they’re a nonpartisan group who “help people vote, not tell them who to vote for.”

“We do this to build awareness,” Persall said.

Photo courtesy Stephanie Sherman/ League of Women Voters of Clallam County, from left, Nancy Slocum, Stephanie Sherman, Gayle Fortson participated in an informational booth on Sept. 17 inside the Port Angeles Goodwill to answer questions and register voters for National Voter Registration Day.

Photo courtesy Stephanie Sherman/ League of Women Voters of Clallam County, from left, Nancy Slocum, Stephanie Sherman, Gayle Fortson participated in an informational booth on Sept. 17 inside the Port Angeles Goodwill to answer questions and register voters for National Voter Registration Day.

For more information about the League of Women Voters of Clallam County, visit lwvcla.clubexpress.com.

The General Election is set for Nov. 5. Get more information about the Clallam County Election by calling the election’s office at 360-417-2221 or by visiting clallamcountywa.gov/Elections.