Hide editor's note drop cap

Editor's note: If you STILL haven't registered to vote yet—despite the fact that we literally PUT A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM ON THE COVER, walked you through the process of filling out the form, and told you why it matters—well, shame on you. But it's still not too late! You can register to vote through October 20th in person at your county auditor's office. If you live in Seattle, that office is—bizarrely—located in Renton; if you live outside King County, you can find out where your county auditor's office is here.

You may have heard there's an election coming up. There are a few races on the ballot that might, you know, make a slight impact on your life.

There's an initiative to expand light rail and express bus service all across the Seattle area.

There's a ton of local offices up for grabs—races for the Washington State House of Representatives and State Senate, where your elected officials make the call on everything from same-sex marriage to education funding.

Then there's the governor election, which came down to 133 votes in 2004.

And, of course, there's this guy named Barack Obama and this other guy named John McCain, and they're each running for president.

Long story short: If you're not voting in this election, you're missing out on one of the biggest events in American history.

You know the funny thing about voting? You have to register first. And guess what you're holding in your hands? A goddamn voter-registration form. You're welcome. Now all you have to do is cut it out, fill it out, and send it in. Or fill it out, cut it out, and send it in. Or, fuck, just fill it out and turn it in at one of the sites listed below, and we'll cut it out and send it in for you.

But you need to register to vote. Right now. There is no excuse.

Have you moved recently? You MUST reregister at your new address. Never registered before? Well guess what? This is a great year to register for the first time and vote!

Here's how it works:

Step 1: Fill it out.

That is an actual voter-registration form on the cover. Fill it out. Yes, it's confusing, but read it carefully and fill out ALL the sections. Don't forget your phone number—that way if you've left anything out, the secretary of state's office can contact you and correct your registration form.

To be eligible to register you need to be a U.S. citizen, a Washington State resident, and 18 years old on the day of the election (November 4). Attention 17-year-olds: If you are turning 18 before the election, you can register RIGHT NOW.

Any questions about the form? Contact the secretary of state at www.vote.wa.gov.

Step 2: Send it in.

You have two options: Fold up the form and mail it to the secretary of state's office, or drop off the form at one of our supersecure drop-box locations listed below. Which is better? They're both good—it's all about what's easier for you.

If you're mailing the form, IT MUST BE POSTMARKED BY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4. If you're dropping the form off at one of our drop-off sites, IT MUST BE TURNED IN BY 10:00 A.M. OF SATURDAY OCTOBER 4.

Step 3: Vote.

Registering to vote is only half the battle. Next up? Filling out your ballot, either when it's mailed to you or in person on Election Day. Watch for the Stranger's election endorsements, which will be published in two weeks. recommended