Apr. 2026 Newsletter: Trump vs. Mail-In Voting
On March 31, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order hypocritically targeting mail-in voting. This is far from first time this administration has attempted meddle with the electorate. If you would like more information on what is being done to secure our elections nationally and in WA, please attend this online session on April 8th, where you’ll hear from Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, and others:
On April 1st, King County Director of Elections Julie Wise provided a thoughtful response to the executive order, which we felt was important to forward onto you. Here is what she had to say, in full:
Dear Partners,
Executive Order. You may have seen in the news that yesterday the President signed another Executive Order aimed at vote-by-mail systems like ours. The Order calls for the Department of Homeland Security to compile a list of citizens. It also directs the USPS to only provide mail ballots to individuals on an approved list.
This Order is both administratively and legally untenable. We are a country of over 340 million people. In the 2024 Presidential Election, there were approximately 175 million registered voters across our country. There is no existing verified list of citizens, and no federal agency has the resources or capabilities to maintain such a list efficiently and effectively.
Legally, the Constitution is clear that only the states and Congress can determine how elections are run. It’s an important balance of power built into the foundation of our democracy by our founders.
Unfortunately, this is not the first attempt to undermine vote-by-mail and it likely will not be the last. As election administrators, we are well-versed in preparing for a wide variety of scenarios and are working closely with our partners at both the state and local level to make sure that King County and our voters are ready for our upcoming elections. I’ve already heard from many of our Councilmembers and Executive Zahilay, and that support means the world to me and our incredible team here at King County Elections.
This team of democracy-driven professional election administrators is already working to expand drop box access this year with a planned ~6 new locations. We are preparing to open Vote Centers to provide in-person service during the upcoming elections, and continuing our partnership with local libraries and community organizations to put on our Accessible Voting Events and bring in-person service and accessible voting units directly to our voters. We are ready to communicate with our voters on what they need to do to make their voices heard.
We are also exploring our legal pathways on this Executive Order, and stand ready to support the state in any legal argument that protects our voters and our democracy.
My team and I are here to help our voters navigate whatever changes and challenges come our way. As always, we will do everything within the law to help our voters get registered, cast their ballot, and make their voice heard. I expect to see this Executive Order thoroughly examined in court, and will keep you updated as the inevitable legal process moves forward.
Elections Annual Report. On a more brighter note, I’m very happy to share that yesterday, I transmitted the 2025 King County Elections Annual Report to the King County Council. This report highlights our work over the past year and reflects the dedication of our team in serving voters across King County.
Candidate workshops. Candidate filing week is just around the corner from May 4 to 8. And tonight, April 1 from 6 to 8 p.m., is the first of our online candidate workshops. These workshops cover important dates and deadlines, how to file for office, how to submit your Voters’ Pamphlet statement, and feature basic campaign finance information from Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission. At the April 7 workshop, we’ll also feature information for Seattle candidates courtesy of the City of Seattle and Seattle Ethics & Elections. With nearly one hundred offices up for election, there are lots of opportunities to step up to represent your community. RSVP to either workshop on our Running for Office page today!
Thank you, as always, for your partnership and support.
Julie Wise, Director
King County Elections
Thank you so much for those words, Ms. Wise.
These are perilous times, but not hopeless ones. It’s important to remember that a better tomorrow won’t simply sprout into existence on its own; it must be built and it must be actively defended. At King County Democrats, we like to say that “every vote always matters.” We ask you to join us in making sure that remains true.
Roll up those sleeves.
Kristopher Katz, Vice Chair for Communications
King County Democrats
P.S. Previous newsletters and other messages from us can be found here.
Paid for by King County Democrats, PO Box 9100, Seattle, WA 98109