All Posts in "Month: October 2020"

The general election promises a historic level of voter turnout. While many voters are returning ballots early, Pierce County election officials anticipate a high volume of traffic at its 47 ballot drop boxes on Nov. 3, the final day that ballots can be cast.

“So far, 73 percent of ballots are being returned through ballot drop boxes, while only 27 percent of voters are using the United States Postal Service,” Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson, who oversees elections in the county. Ballot drop-box utilization will only increase as the election draws closer, she predicted.

To keep traffic moving at ballot drop boxes, the county has enlisted the help of non-partisan volunteers who are a part of Rotary International. Between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, pairs of well-marked, badged Rotarians will stand at 22 of the county’s busiest boxes. Their sole purpose is to provide a cheerful hello and offer to help voters get their ballots in the box, according to Anderson.

“Everyone can relate to the drive-thru experience where you have to unbuckle your seat belt and then stretch out your car window. It speeds up the process when you have a helping hand,” Anderson said.

The help is optional. Any voter may deposit their ballot unassisted.

Rotarians have no other role in the election process.

Pierce County tried out the Rotary volunteers during the August primary election. “They really kept things moving. Voters seemed to enjoy being greeted by a friendly – albeit masked – face,” said Kyle Haugh, county elections supervisor.

Virginia Ferguson, president of Tacoma Sunrise Rotary, was among Rotarians who served during the August test run. “It was a great chance to be a small part in making voting easier for our citizens. The voters were so nice. They appreciated us,” she said.

“As Rotarians, we feel our best, when we’re helping our community. Serving and supporting our local and national election is truly an honor and privilege for each one of us,” said Linda Kaye Briggs, an assistant governor of Rotary.

Eighty-eight volunteers from 10 different Pierce County Rotary clubs will help on Election Day at the following locations:

  • Pierce County Annex.
  • Bonney Lake South Park and Ride.
  • Browns Point Northeast Tacoma Police Substation.
  • Edgewood City Hall.
  • Gig Harbor Fire Station 51.
  • Gig Harbor branch of Pierce County Library.
  • Graham Fire and Rescue station, 10012 187th St. E.
  • Kandle Park Police Substation, Tacoma.
  • Lakewood City Hall.
  • Orting Public Safety Building.
  • Parkland-Spanaway branch of Pierce County Library.
  • Puyallup Public Library.
  • Roy Y Park and Ride.
  • South Hill branch of Pierce County Library.
  • Steilacoom branch of Pierce County Library.
  • Summit branch of Pierce County Library.
  • Sumner branch of Pierce County Library.
  • University of Washington-Tacoma, 1906 Pacific Ave.
  • West Pierce Fire and Rescue station (University Place).
  • 72nd Street Transit Center

Rotary International is an international service organization whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian service and advance goodwill. It is a non-political and non-religious organization with 13 clubs in Pierce County.

srmedia by — October 30, 2020 in News

When it comes to financial impacts of COVID-19, Millennials are hurting the most and Baby Boomers are feeling the least pain. As for fighting the virus, boomers are bummed by lockdowns but are more into eventually taking a vaccine than younger adults.

Those are among the results of a survey by healthinsurance.com, a clearinghouse of information about insurance carriers. Nationwide, a combined 1,595 Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers between the ages of 24 and 74 were polled about their perspectives on everything from healthcare and the economy to technology and social media during the pandemic.

Fifty-one percent of everyone said they have experienced financial insecurity due to COVID-19. Sixty percent of Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) were most impacted, including putting off medical care because of cost. Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) were the least impacted, with only 37 percent reporting financial hardships. Across the three generations, 30 percent know someone who has lost their health insurance during the pandemic, and 82 percent think the U.S. healthcare system is broken.

While 87 percent of all survey participants are comfortable having their temperature checked before walking into an establishment, only 4 percent feel it’s an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, while 40 percent think masks are the most effective way to prevent the spread of the virus. Millennials and Gen Xers (the latter born between 1965 and 1980) think social distancing and lockdowns are almost equally as effective, a view shared by only 12 percent of boomers.

The survey also revealed:

  • 71 percent of all respondents find themselves on the computer or phone more often since the pandemic started, which may be why 39 percent say they need a digital detox.
  • Facebook is still king of the social media when it comes staying connected digitally, especially for boomers—75 percent of whom use it. Sixty percent of all generations sayi they use Facebook the most, followed by Instagram at 19 percent and Twitter at 11 percent.
srmedia by — October 28, 2020 in Lifestyles

Americans are casting their votes in what may be one of the most pivotal elections in American history. The outcome will determine the future of healthcare in this country for decades.

The Trump administration and Senate allies have made clear their intent to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare) through a combination of executive orders, legislation, and legal challenges. Also, the Trump administration announced it would permanently end the payroll tax if he is re-elected; but this is the tax that funds Social Security and Medicare. Ending it would essentially bring these critical entitlement programs for seniors to an end.

Alternatively, the Biden-Harris ticket and the Democratic Party have made improving on the ACA and adding elements of the Medicare-for-all movement to increase coverage for Americans a central plank of their platform. They have also vowed they would protect Social Security and Medicare from cuts.

The difference between the two parties and their approach to healthcare is what is on the ballot for healthcare in 2020. Will healthcare become a “right” or a “privilege” for Americans?

Five predictions:

  • Universal healthcare/Medicare-for-all will either establish its foundation in a hybrid ACA/Medicare/Medicaid model with a Biden victory, or it will continue to be under constant assault from all sides with a Trump victory. The outcome of the election will decide if we enter into a divisive period of history between the haves and have-nots resembling “The Healthcare Hunger Games.”
  • America’s population of 65-plus will grow to the point that it surpasses the population of 18 and under in less than 15 years. A mass exodus of retiring workers will shrink the tax base to support them in retirement, exerting even more stress on already beleaguered entitlement programs. Increasing demand on Medicare and Medicaid will fuel growth in private-pay resources such as reverse mortgages and life settlements to cover the costs of senior care supports and services.
  • Despite attempts to scapegoat entitlements for ballooning budget deficits and the national debt, the reality of these programs’ importance to millions of Americans will trump political demagoguery. Meaningful reforms to shore up the fiscal solvency of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will continue.
  • Employer-based health coverage only works when people are employed; 158 million people (more than half of all Americans under the age of 65) had employment-based (group) health insurance at the beginning of 2020. But today, 40 million people have found themselves unemployed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Employer-based health insurance has been the primary means to cover Americans, but redefining what employment looks like going forward will have to take into account an overreliance on a stable and growing economy as the primary way for people to obtain affordable health insurance coverage.
  • Medical staff and supplies stretch thin quickly during a crisis, and the impact of the coronavirus on healthcare will be long-lasting. The inequities of healthcare across economic and racial lines will need to be addressed, and the debate over how healthcare is paid for will only get more intense. The need for more medical professionals and also overall support staffing will become a problem as many will question if this is a field they want to be in. The shortages of supplies forcing hospitals to crowdsource for things such as homemade masks have shown how important preparedness is and the need to stockpile materials.

A nation’s healthcare system reflects its values, and the outcome of this election will be a lasting statement that will impact every single American.

Chris Orestis (www.retirementgenius.com), who wrote this article, is president of LifeCare Xchange and has 25 years experience in the insurance and long-term care industries.

srmedia by — October 28, 2020 in News
COMMENTARY: Counties are ready for a safe, secure election

As the election approaches, we have been hearing from voters who are anxious or concerned about the upcoming election. As your local county election officials, we want you to know what you can do to ensure that you are registered, receive your ballot, return your ballot, and be certain your ballot is counted.

In Washington, we have been voting by mail for more than 15 years. We are confident that our vote-by-mail system is safe, timely and secure. We are committed to making sure that your voices are heard. We are ready for the Nov. 3 general election — are you?

Prepare now and make a vote plan. If you are registered, you do not need to call us for a ballot. The deadline to register online is Oct. 26. After that, you must register in person.

Think ahead about how you’ll return your ballot. No postage is needed, whether you return your voted ballot through the mail or use one of the hundreds of ballot drop boxes located throughout the region.

For most voters, there is no need to vote in person. Keep yourself, your neighbors and your election workers safe by returning your ballot by mail or by dropping your ballot in a secure ballot drop box.

Don’t delay. Whether you return your ballot by mail or through a ballot drop box, don’t wait until Nov. 3. Vote early to give yourself time to track your ballot and ensure it was counted, to avoid the last-minute crowds at ballot drop boxes and certainly to avoid lines on Election Day.

If you vote early, you will have plenty of time to fix any issues that might arise with your ballot, like updating your signature if necessary. An early vote also ensures that your votes are counted in election-night results. There is no reason to wait — get your ballot, fill it out, get it back to us.

Your vote is secure. Voting by mail is secure. Our state has layers of physical and cyber security measures in place to protect your vote and our elections. We work tirelessly during every election to ensure a safe and secure voting process.

We cannot ignore that there is a lot of misinformation circulating about voter fraud. In Washington, voter fraud rates are incredibly low, and attempts at fraud are few and far between. We are all proud of our respective counties’ security measures and the multiple processes in place to prevent voter fraud in our vote-by-mail environment.

We’re here for you. If you need assistance, your county elections office is ready to help. Don’t hesitate to call your county elections office. We can likely assist you without your having to make a trip to the elections office or a vote center, especially if you make sure you’re already registered.

Fifteen years of voting by mail has prepared us well for this election. We have a strong partnership with the U.S. Postal Service, we’ve installed hundreds of ballot drop boxes throughout our respective counties, and we’ve prepared and planned for this election for years. Your county election officials are committed to a safe and secure election. All you need to do is vote.

 

This article is reprinted from Crosscut.com, a non-profit news site based in Seattle. The article’s writers are their counties’ top election officials. Julie Wise is the King County director of elections, Julie Anderson is the Pierce County auditor, Mary Hall is the Thurston County auditor, Garth Fell is the Snohomish County auditor, and Paul Andrews is the Kitsap County auditor.

srmedia by — October 24, 2020 in News