Last day to register for general election

Today is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 7 general election. If you're not already registered, you can register in person at the King County elections office in the King County Administration Building, 500 Fourth Ave., Room 553. The office closes at 4:30 p.m.

Voter-registration forms are available in English and in several foreign languages. Forms can be downloaded at www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/register.aspx but must be turned in at the county elections office.

To register to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, a legal resident of this state and at least 18 by Nov. 7. Federal and state laws require citizens to provide identification, such as a Washington driver's license or valid state ID card, to be eligible to vote. If you do not have a state driver's license or ID card, other forms of identification may be acceptable.

Election observers

King County elections officials will conduct a two-hour class tonight for people interested in observing the election process. The class will begin at 6 p.m.

Political parties provide official party observers to oversee election activities. The process is open to public scrutiny as well, starting on Election Day — Nov. 7 — and running through result certification Nov. 28.

Most ballots for this general election are expected to be absentees cast through the mail and processed at the King County elections office's Temporary Elections Annex next to Boeing Field on East Marginal Way in Tukwila. Observer training also will be held at the annex. Those who wish to attend the training session should call 206-296-1565 to sign up.

Help wanted: poll workers

The county elections office is also interested in recruiting businesses and nonprofit groups that can provide employees as volunteer poll workers for the Nov. 7 general election. Any interested businesses should contact the poll-worker coordination office at 206-296-1606.

The elections office will staff and run 509 polling places for the general election, each with a number of polling judges and other workers. The county tries to assign workers to polling locations in their own neighborhoods.

Individuals serving as poll workers can be as young as 16 but must be able to read, write and speak English fluently. Especially needed are workers also fluent in Cantonese or Mandarin.

Poll workers are responsible for opening and closing polling places on Election Day and instructing voters on proper procedures. Training sessions are required. Call the poll-worker coordination office for information.

Getting around: McChord exercise

An anti-terrorism exercise is scheduled today and Tuesday at McChord Air Force Base, and that will mean tighter access to the base and some traffic congestion in the area, south of Tacoma, because of stepped-up security measures at all gates.

Base officials recommend avoiding the area for the two days, unless absolutely necessary. Simulated emergencies are planned to test the base's preparedness to respond to a security breach or attack.

Neighbors near McChord can expect to hear a variety of sirens and voice announcements over the base public-address system. Exercises will begin this morning and continue through the afternoon, then resume Tuesday morning.

Here & Now is compiled by Seattle Times staff reporter Charles E. Brown and news assistant Suesan Whitney Henderson. To submit an item, e-mail herenow@seattletimes.com or call 206-464-2226.