WA State Primary Election 2026: Your Vote Matters

The Washington State Primary Election is underway, with the deadline to cast your ballot being August 4th at 8:00 PM. The primary is consequential in determining the foreseeable political landscape in the state, as voters will soon elect five justices. In the U.S., voter turnout in primary elections is consistently lower than in general elections. In 2024, 78.95% of Washington voters cast a ballot in November’s general election, while just 40.91% voted in the August primary. The significance of the primary election is frequently overlooked despite its direct role in narrowing the candidate pool for the subsequent election. With five of nine seats being up for grabs in the Washington State Supreme Court, it is imperative that we mobilize voters and support those dedicated to creating a more just juvenile legal system.

Supreme Court Justices are at the helm of decisions that can create generational impact, both positive and negative. A notable issue the future justices may consider is Washington’s “millionaires tax,” which is projected to generate over $3 billion annually to invest in our schools and support working families. The tax has faced legal challenges in court, under the nearly century-old Washington State Supreme Court precedent treating income as property. Even if voters were to pass the upcoming ballot initiative, the possibility of a Supreme Court challenge remains. Cases like that of State v. Chisum, addressing the application of SHB 2217 (2024), a law that examines crimes youth committed prior to the age of 18 and expands the exclusive juvenile-court jurisdiction in cases involving individuals charged for alleged crimes before age 21, have a direct impact on the youth we serve at TeamChild. In these instances, crucial juvenile justice reform and billions of dollars dedicated to programs benefiting youth and families are at jeopardy – the five new justices entrusted by voters will have a substantial impact on our state’s trajectory in juvenile justice reform and upholding new pathways to provide resources necessary for preventing youth from entering the juvenile legal system.

Your vote is your voice – at TeamChild, we strongly encourage you to exercise your constitutional right to make yourself heard through civic engagement and participation in all elections. Together, we can make a difference and elect those committed to creating systemic changes that improve the lives of youth across Washington State.

Written By: Brad Blackburn III