Locate information for voting, tax forms, publications, and local sources of assistance as well as election and voting related reading recommendations for all ages and special events!
Voter Registration forms in English and Spanish are available at all Bellingham Public Library locations. Stop by and pick one up today! Click HERE for Library locations and hours.
The Whatcom County Auditor’s office will mail local voter guides out on Monday, October 14, and ballots will be mailed on Wednesday, October 16. For more information about our local elections and schedule, please visit the Whatcom County Auditor’s webpage.
Local Voters’ Pamphlet for November General Mailed
Mon. October 14
Ballots Mailed and Drop Boxes Opened for November 5 General
Wed. Oct. 16
Vote Center Opens at Whatcom County Elections
Wed. Oct. 16
Special Events
Voting Information and Registration
October 19, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Drop into the SkillShare Space at the Central Library where the League of Women Voters of Bellingham and Whatcom County will be onsite to provide information about local elections, assistance with voter registration, and answer questions about voting.
The Art of Community Series
Please join us for the final session of the Art of Community Series presented by the Bellingham Public Library in partnership with the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center and the League of Women Voters. All are welcome, no registration required. Participants will leave with new connections and ideas.
The Art of Community: Voter Engagement
Tuesday, October 22, 2:30 – 4:00pm
Voting Information
Staff Reading Recommendations
Our Time is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America by Stacey Abrams
“It’s easy to forget, when we live in a state where registering and voting are so easy, that this is not the case all over. This book is an in depth look at voter suppression in the United States, outlining how voting is handled in different places, what works and what doesn’t, and how systems are being put in place that prevent citizens from voting.” Adult Nonfiction
– Lorena, Public Services Clerk
“Mónica Guzmán is a Mexican immigrant, dual US/México citizen, and local thought leader. I first encountered Mónica when she was artist-in-residence at Town Hall Seattle. Since then, she’s continued to shine a clear path on how one can connect with people who think very differently. Her primary advice? Get curious! Mónica has done important work not only for our region but for our nation in how to bridge opposing ideologies. She has inspired me to ask good questions, maintain respect, and take an honest look at my own assumptions.” Adult Nonfiction
– Miranda, Library Events Coordinator
The Women’s March by Jennifer Chiaverini
“A narrative account of one of the largest protests for women’s suffrage in the United States. This story blends nonfiction elements into a fictional account of the original Women’s March, and is a solid reminder that women’s suffrage was hard fought and won, not granted.” Adult Fiction
– Lorena, Public Services Clerk
“This is the first book of the sci-fi trilogy The Centenal Cycle, which tells the story of a future where most people subscribe to “micro-democracies” of 100,000. There’s plenty of intrigue and suspense in Infomocracy, as well as disturbing echoes of our own election system, and I recommend it for adults and teens with a strong interest in the mechanics of politics. It’s very plot-driven, so if you read primarily for character development, you might be disappointed, but I thought the focus on plot worked very well for this story.” Adult Fiction
– Karen, Public Services Clerk
You Call THIS Democracy? by Elizabeth Rusch
“A comprehensive and comprehendible deep dive into the current state of American democracy, what’s wrong with it, why those things are wrong, how we got here, and steps for how these problems can be fixed. This is the first book on politics and voting that I’ve read recently that made me feel hopeful.” Teen Hot Nonfiction
– Lorena, Public Services Clerk
Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio
“This is just a really good primer on the basics of presidential elections. The story outlines the electoral college, how campaigning works, and shows that every vote can indeed count. The illustrations are all detailed and interesting, and if you watch closely, you can see our swing voter making their decision before the end of the book!” Children’s Picturebook
– Lorena, Public Services Clerk
Finish the Fight! by Veronica Chambers
“A beautifully illustrated and comprehensive overview of the long road to women’s suffrage, including a lot of really awesome women you probably haven’t heard of yet. Each story showcases someone who fought long and hard so that women in the United States could have the right to vote and details the deeply important reasons that women wanted to be able to participate in elections and have a say over who represents them.” Children’s Nonfiction
– Lorena, Public Services Clerk
Taxes
updated 01/24/2024