Times editorial board here to help with voter education before Aug. 18 primary

Washington state's political reporters won't be backfilling their colleague's summer vacations with reports from county fairs.

What was once a languid season of pre-election preparation, vacation and colorful features is now a time of long hours spent chasing candidates. Summer's political importance is relatively new in Washington. The state's primary was moved back from September to August in 2007, with the primary falling on Aug. 18 this year.

Personally, I like the change. The mid-September date compressed the election cycle too much and cheated voters of a lengthy debate between their final two choices.

Secretary of State Sam Reed pushed for the switch largely for logistical reasons. It was tough to certify primary results then turn around and quickly get ready for the general election in November. No need to rush something as important as elections.

The naysayers, of which there are many, argue that the average voter isn't paying attention in July and August. They are too occupied with graduations, vacations, kids and a laundry list of life's other realities.

People find excuses not to vote no matter what time of year elections are held. The Seattle Times editorial staff's job is to help voters, the distracted and engaged, to pay attention to the primary and help them think about the choices before them.

To this end our schedule at The Times is packed with endorsement interviews this month. We will be vetting races from the Eastside to Seattle that involve more than two candidates, triggering a primary vote. In most cases, the editorial board will pick two candidates to suggest for the general election. The advancing candidates will likely be asked to come in for another endorsement meeting in the fall.

Technology makes it possible to give voters more insight into the endorsement process. Seattletimes.com will webcast our endorsement meetings for King County executive on July 15 and Seattle mayor on July 21.

Look for our endorsements the last week of this month and the first week of August. The endorsements will begin running about a week before the mail ballots go out and for nearly a week after voters receive them. This ensures voters have our suggestions before and while they sit down at the kitchen table to vote. We will also do a recap of our suggestions closer to Aug. 18.

We are not going it alone for this primary. The editorial page has partnered with CityClub to put on debates for the two highest profile races. The county executive debate will be July 16 at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. The following week, on July 23, we will be at it again with the Seattle mayoral debate at CityClub's home in Rainier Square.

CityClub has proved to be the perfect partner because its mission of informing voters and creating a civic dialogue dovetails with what we do every day.

Diane Douglas, CityClub's executive director, said that her organization has been sponsoring debates since its first programming in 1981.

"We help create informed voters so they really know the candidates," she said.

Hopefully, our busy summer makes yours a bit less hectic and arms voters with the knowledge needed to pick our region's leaders.

Ryan Blethen's column appears Sunday on the editorial pages of The Times. His e-mail address is: rblethen@seattletimes.com