Vote Like a Husky: UW Impact’s Guide to the Election Season
A pivotal election for Washington voters is just weeks away. At UW Impact, we understand the power of your voice. Each legislative session, we rally thousands of advocates to champion public higher education across the state. We ensure the UW community stays informed, engaged, and ready to take action.
The most important act of civic engagement is voting.
Explore our Get Out The Vote resources to guide you through the upcoming election cycle. Click on the highlighted links below to access these resources.
Get Out The Vote Resources
Upcoming Ballot Initiatives
This November, two statewide ballot initiatives with major implications for higher education funding will be up for a vote. Learn more about Initiative 2117 (Prohibit Carbon Tax Credit Trading) and Initiative 2109 (Repealing the Capital Gains Tax), and explore how each could impact financial support for higher education. For a breakdown of the projected effects, view our summary here.
Ballot Initiative Impact Summary
Ballot Initiative Impact Full Overview
Candidate Survey
Prior to every Washington State legislative election, we conduct a short, non-partisan candidate survey to see how candidates would prioritize public higher education issues. Have your candidates responded? Find out!
Upcoming Fun and Educational Events
Get involved in civic engagement while enjoying yourself at UW Impact’s upcoming events. Join us online or in-person for community, insightful discussions, and refreshments at our series of free democracy-focused gatherings.
Oct. 2nd – I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times (In person, Seattle Town Hall) 5:30 PM
- UW Impact is hosting a free reception prior to author and activist Mónica Guzmán’s lecture. Mónica is a bestselling author and a key figure in fostering constructive political discourse between opposing viewpoints. Attendees will have the chance to meet Mónica, enjoy refreshments, and will have reserved seats for the lecture. Learn more about the event and RSVP below. Also, check out the new podcast Mónica is producing with KUOW, “A Braver Way”.
Oct. 22nd – State of Trust: Washington’s Political Climate and Voter Priorities (Virtual) 5:00 – 6:00 PM
- What is the current level of trust in our electoral system? What do Washingtonians see as the top priorities for their elected officials? How do they view candidates running for state and federal office? The Seattle Times’ Claire Withycombe joins Danielle Lee Tomson from the UW Center for an Informed Public to analyze key findings from the WA Poll, a statewide public opinion survey co-sponsored by the CIP, The Seattle Times and KING5 TV. Tune in online as they offer insights into what these findings reveal about November’s elections, the state of democracy and the future political climate in Washington state. Hanson Hosein moderates the panel.
Oct. 24th – American Democracy and the 2024 Election (In person, Seattle Town Hall) 5:30 PM
- UWAA members are invited to enjoy food, beverages and good company at a special pre-lecture reception with speaker Jake Grumbach before he takes the stage at Town Hall Seattle! After the reception, head to your saved seat in the auditorium to hear Grumbach discuss trends in three areas of American democracy: the rule of law, majority rule, and political equality. Each of these areas is a crucial component for a political system of the people, by the people, and for the people, and each area shows signs of strain. Don’t miss this critical conversation about the health of our democracy!
Husky Caucus Directory
More than 30 UW alumni serve in the Washington State Legislature, and they help enact key legislation that affects the University community and beyond. Check out the Husky Caucus Directory to learn who they are, what they studied, where they serve, and more!
Access the Husky Caucus Directory
Huskies Vote
Find a collection of resources and events to help voters get registered, get informed, and get to the polls. Your voice matters — make sure you use it!
Voting for American UW alums abroad
Voting abroad or know someone who is? Access non-partisan resources to help navigate voter registration, ballot requests, and the task of mailing ballots from abroad.
What else can you do?
- Ensure you and your friends and loved ones are registered to vote with updated information.
- Look for action alert emails from UW Impact. We will tell you when your messages to elected officials are needed most.
- Look for updates from UW Impact on social media (find us on Facebook, Instagram, Linked-In, and Twitter).
- Ask your Husky friends and relatives to join UW Impact today, so they can be part of our grassroots army.
Thank you for your support of higher education, and your civic engagement!