Get to the polls with Indivisible Tri-Cities!
Narrated by Morrigan Crowe
Indivisible Tri-Cities is working hard on voter education, and encouraging Tri-Citians to get out to the polls and make their voices heard. I sat down with Pamela Gaudet, the person in charge of communications, elections, operations, and technology for the organization, to discuss the work they are doing, and what their biggest goals are.
The main way that Indivisible stays active is by having monthly working meetings with featured speakers. Last month, for example, an attorney from the ACLU spoke on the topic of elections. Indivisible also attends events like Cinco De Mayo, Mushroom Fest, Juneteenth, and Pride, which is critical for exposure to the community at large and spreading information to voters.
Gaudet says:
We're having volunteers — totally nonpartisan people — and we are encouraging people to vote. One year ago, only about 20% of the people voted in that primary. [We’re] just having these conversations to get people to vote. We're not telling them how to vote or who to vote for.
Indivisible’s main goal in their voter education is to increase confidence in voting. This includes teaching people how to check that their ballots are received by the auditors, find out where the ballot dropboxes are located, and register people to vote if they haven’t voted in the Tri-Cities before.
Who will represent Washington’s 4th Congressional District next? Indivisible is creating a voter’s guide for Washington’s 4th Congressional District (CD 4). With Representative Dan Newhouse not seeking re-election, several candidates are running for this open seat. Indivisible Tri-Cities is interviewing the candidates, and are asking members of the community to submit the questions they want the candidates to answer.
“We're just getting out in the community to try to get people to vote, and also for the Tri-Citians to ask the questions … people from everyday working lives,” says Gaudet. “Once the questions come together, we'll synthesize them, and then we will publish them on our social media.”
Indivisible wants to hear from you! Submit a question for consideration using this form: https://forms.gle/D5nPbhxizsKRgwuMA
All the candidates that are running in CD 4 will be sent the questions. According to Ballotpedia, there are 11 candidates running for this seat: one Democrat, six Republicans, one Independent, one No Party, and one member of the Cascade Party.
Gaudet says they will also include questions that reflect the values of the Indivisible organization. “We are going to try to adhere to our five values: affordability, DEI, science, immigration, and free speech.” She promised to publish the candidates’ unedited answers on their social media, and share the information with other Indivisible groups.
Gaudet says that the best way to keep doing the work is to stay connected with your community.
The primary election is Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Ballots have to be mailed out by or before July 17, 2026.
For more information about Indivisible Tri-Cities, visit indivisibletricitieswa.org
A lifelong resident of Eastern Washington, Dori enjoys the outdoors, her family, and making good trouble. She has worked for many years in broadcasting and reporting and believes in the value of the 4th estate. She is a true community advocate that loves Washington.
