Mayor Addresses Mount Rainier Elementary PTO

This morning, Mayor Miles met with the members of the Mount Rainier Elementary School PTO to inform them of their new found rights to vote in the municipal elections regardless of their national citizenship status, introduce to them the voter registration forms, and announce registration events in the city.

The mayor's announcement was initially met with some confusion. After reiteration by the interpreter that YES, what you heard is 100% correct, you do NOT have to be a US citizen to vote in the citywide elections, the members had looks on their faces that could only be described as "heart touching". Imagine "shocked" and "excited" all rolled into one. There were even a couple of tears.

One of the big questions that was presented was, "Will my vote count?". The mayor went on to tell them how, in municipal elections, that not only does every single vote count, but the elections can be won or lost based on ONE single vote. She also told them how a local election, here in Mount Rainier, was decided by a 6 vote margin the last time we voted two years ago.

The excitement that was seen from the group that day was very encouraging. In light of the recent national elections, there is great hope that our fellow Mounties will be ready to get out and vote on May 1st. Now, with the INCLUSION of ALL of our neighbors in our local voting process, there is an even greater hope that all of those who live in our city will also want to be a part of the voting process as well.

There is a need to get the word out to the local apartment complexes to let them know they are welcomed to register and vote as well as a need for people willing to get certified as registrars to assist our neighbors with the registration forms. If you are willing to help with either of these, please contact us and let us know!

Let us work together to help bring full circle our "Welcoming City" status that was started in 2008, by welcoming everyone to register and vote!