EVERETT — The Snohomish County Auditor’s Office has completed the process of updating voters’ records to include the changed congressional and legislative districts approved this year by the state legislature.
Voters can expect to be voting in their new districts beginning with the Aug. 7 Primary. Nearly 232,000 voters in Snohomish County have had a change to their congressional or legislative districts this year.
Every 10 years following the U.S. decennial census, boundary lines are redrawn for federal, state and local voting districts. The goal of the redistricting process is to balance representative districts so that they are nearly equal in population.
Because of an increase in population, Washington State picked up an additional congressional seat this year. In accommodating the additional congressional seat and as a result of state population shifts, Snohomish County saw significant changes to its congressional lines.
The 1st Congressional District formerly encompassed south Snohomish County through King County, west over to Kitsap County, but now stretches from the Canadian border in Whatcom County, through east Skagit and Snohomish counties, and as far south as Kirkland in King County. The 2nd Congressional District now covers west Snohomish County with the exception of Edmonds, which is now in the 7th Congressional District.
State legislative district lines were also adjusted, though the changes were less dramatic. No new legislative districts were added in Snohomish County and districts simply expanded or contracted along previous boundaries.
In addition to congressional and legislative lines, county council and public utility director districts have been updated. School director district lines will be adjusted in the coming months in preparation for 2013 local elections.
Voters can see their current districts by using the MyVote application available on the Washington State Secretary of State’s website at www.vote.wa.gov. District maps for Snohomish County and an interactive elected officials look-up based on address are available on the Snohomish County Elections website at www.snoco.org/elections.
New voter cards have been sent as required by state law to 6,499 voters whose precinct boundaries have changed. For additional information contact Snohomish County Elections at 425-388-3444.
