Venue

: The Wyncote NW Forum
: 1119 8th Ave (Entrance off Seneca St.)
Seattle, 98101 United States + Google Map

Presented by University of Washington College of Arts & Sciences, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, and UW Alumni Association. For questions about this event, please contact casevents@uw.edu.

Illustration of a hand marking a ballot with a check inside an outline of Washington state in purple. The hand has an orange sleeve with star patterns, symbolizing voting or elections.

Rentals

Trust on the Ballot: Voting in Washington features three Washington Secretaries of State discussing the history and evolution of voting in our state—from the various systems in place to the complex and polarized climate we now operate in. Current Secretary of State Steve Hobbs joins former Secretaries of State Kim Wyman and Sam Reed for a panel discussion convened by the University of Washington’s College of Arts & Sciences and the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for a reception with UW faculty who have expertise in politics, elections, and democracy.

The goal of this program is to help Washington residents understand the history and evolution of voting in our state, from those who have led these efforts over the past several decades.

The audience will get to listen to the panelists as they have a facilitated discussion on stage. There will be a moderated Q&A session at the end.

Those who are unable to attend in person can watch the livestream or the video recording via TV-W.

Steve Hobbs is the 16th and current Secretary of State.

Kim Wyman, a Republican, was elected Washington’s 15th Secretary of State in 2012 and served two full terms. She resigned during her third term in November 2021 to join the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. She was only the second female secretary of state in Washington’s history. Prior to being elected to this office, Kim served as Thurston County Elections Director for nearly a decade and served three terms as the elected Thurston County Auditor (2001-2013). Secretary Wyman graduated from California State University Long Beach and earned her master’s degree in Public Administration from Troy State University. City University of Seattle awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in Leadership in 2015, and she received CERA certification from The Election Center and Auburn University in 2004.

Sam Reed, a Republican, was elected Washington’s 14th Secretary of State in 2000 and served three terms. Secretary Reed was born in 1941 in Portland, Oregon, and grew up in Wenatchee and Spokane. He attended Washington State University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Studies and a Master’s Degree in Political Science. Reed served as Assistant Secretary of State under Lud Kramer and Bruce Chapman. Gov. Dan Evans appointed Reed Director of the Urban Affairs Commission and the Constitutional Reform Commission. Reed was elected Thurston County Auditor five times before becoming Secretary of State. As Secretary, Reed served as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, and he received several national honors for programs run by his office.