Elections Director Julie Wise Will Run For Reelection In 2019

From Julie Wise: King County Elections Director Julie Wise is seeking re-election to a second term, following three years marked by broad reforms to remove barriers to voting while ensuring secure and accurate elections.

“It’s been a busy and exciting period as we’ve adopted reforms and procedures to improve public confidence in our elections and make it easier for our growing and diverse population to participate in democracy,” said Wise.

Wise is a non-partisan election administrator who has more than 15 years of experience in the field; she is certified at both the state and national level and has received local and national accolades for her work. Wise was the recipient of the Korean American Coalition’s Rocky Kim Pioneer Award, Washington Secretary of State’s Voter Outreach Award, and brought home the national Election Center Democracy Award for her innovative and inclusive approach to running elections.

Under Wise’s leadership, the department added 56 new ballot drop boxes and now provides election materials in Spanish and Korean for a total of five languages. Also at Wise’s request, King County was the first to adopt pre-paid postage on return ballots, an effort that was ultimately embraced statewide for the 2018 Primary and General Elections.

“We have done a lot here in King County to improve access, from ballot drop boxes to pre-paid postage to partnering with community groups to make sure language and culture are not barriers to participation,” said Wise. “As a result, we are seeing increased v

oting from traditionally underrepresented populations, and greater diversity in our elected officials. We are still learning and adapting, but proud of our efforts.”

Tabulation of ballots, ballot security, and election integrity are increasingly important as concern about outside meddling in elections remains in the headlines. Wise has taken significant steps including partnering with the State, County, and Department of Homeland Security to protect King County’s elections.

“We were the first jurisdiction in the state to ask for a comprehensive cyber security audit of our systems,” said Wise. “By collaborating with local and national experts and building our own capacity, we’ll make sure our vote-by-mail system continues to be safe.”

Changes at the state level are also exciting opportunities for Wise and King County, with reforms that she has long advocated for taking effect in 2018. “Same day voter registration, pre-registration for 16 and 17-year-olds, and automatic voter registration are huge steps at the state level to ensure those who have not voted in the past can participate in the future,” said Wise.

Wise, seeking a truly non-partisan office, will be building a campaign that reflects the mission of her office: to engage with voters throughout the county in a way that increases awareness, confidence and participation in elections.

“I am looking forward to the campaign ahead, and the opportunity to continue serving in this important role,” said Wise.

Wise and her husband live near Enumclaw with their dogs, cat, chickens, and ducks.

Learn more at www.JulieWise.com

Image via Julie Wise