Seeing a lot of repeat questions, so here's a quick voting guide that I assembled for tomorrow (please share this with friends):
- You need to caucus at your location - you cannot just show up wherever is closest. If your voter address is near your place, you'll be at the most convenient place by default.
- Use this tool to find + double-check your caucus location: https://vote.berniesanders.com/WA/
- Arrive at the caucus no later than 9:30am
- Pre-register for your caucus online and skip any hassle: https://www.demcaucus.com/register
- Double-check your voter status and print out a copy to bring with you at https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/myvote in case you need it
- You do not need to be a registered Democrat to participate! Washington State does not have party registration and is an open primary. When you sign into caucus you will claim you are a Democrat. This is required, however it is only a formality to say that you are not there to sabotage the vote, nor are you going to turn around and caucus for the Republicans in the same election cycle. It has no effect on your voter registration record.
- Ideally a caucus will take no longer than 2 hours, how ever it may take longer if there are issues with precinct leadership or if turn-out is incredibly high. Do not leave until at least the second count has been completed. Minimally two counts will take place to make sure all delegates are properly allocated.
Washington has open caucuses — anyone can caucus for Bernie Sanders. Participation in Washington's caucuses is open to all voters who wish to participate as Democrats. Washington has Same-Day Registration which allows you to register to vote at the caucuses on Sat, March 26.
Unfortunately, the deadline for submitting surrogate/absentee votes was last Friday, 3/18. If you are scheduled to go to work Saturday morning, please double check your voting rights – you may be legally entitled to 2 hours off: http://www.findlaw.com/voting-rights-law.html "Employees who do not have 2 free hours (excluding meals and breaks) during their work day in which polls are open, and who receive their work schedule with insufficient time to request an absentee ballot, are entitled to up to 2 paid hours leave to vote. The employer can set the time for leave to vote."
You may still caucus in Washington if you will be 18 years old by November 8, 2016.