All boat decals in Washington expire June 30 each year, so now’s the time to renew your boat registration and make sure your vessel is ready to launch! If your boat is currently registered, you can renew online, by mail, or at a vehicle and vessel licensing office. 

 

Before renewing, make sure your name and address are up to date.  

For lapsed (expired) boat registrations:

• If you want to use your boat before June 30, you'll need to renew the expired registration online first, then renew again for the new registration year (July 1 – June 30).

• Register your boat within 60 days of moving to Washington, or 

• Register within 15 days of purchase if you're a current resident. 

⚓ Remember:  Your registration card must be onboard any time you’re using your boat, so keep it handy! 

 

Once the three days have passed, you have 60 days to get married, providing you some flexibility to have your ceremony at a time that’s convenient for you. That means there’s no need to wait until the last minute.

💡 Fun Fact: the waiting period has a long history, dating back to the 1930s. It was introduced to provide couples time to reflect before making such an important commitment.  

📌 Note: Due to a change in Washington State law, effective July 27, 2025, the fee for a marriage license will increase to $170. For more information or if you have questions, please contact Snohomish County Recording.  

   

 

These topics were selected to support the unique challenges these personnel encounter in the field and to enhance confidence and consistency across agencies. A post-event survey showed overwhelmingly positive feedback, and based on its success, we plan to make this an annual training event. 

 

During Candidate Filing Week, which ran the first full week of May, 353 candidates filed to run for office in Snohomish County. With more than 180 offices up for election this year, candidate participation remained consistent with recent local election cycles. For comparison, 331 candidates filed for 174 offices in 2021.  

Of the 353 candidates that filed, 63 will appear on the August Primary ballot while the rest will advance directly to the November General Election. Partisan races always appear on the primary ballot, even if only one or two candidates file for the position. Nonpartisan races appear on the primary ballot if three or more candidates filed, otherwise, the race advances directly to the General Election ballot.  

Ballots for the August 5 Primary will be mailed on July 17. To see who filed for office, learn about key dates and deadlines for the August Primary, and more, visit snoco.org/elections.

 

Warmer weather means many of us are spending more time outdoors, whether it’s taking more trips to the park, gardening, biking, or just enjoying the sunshine. But as outdoor activity increases, so does the risk of dog bites. Whether you’re a dog owner or just enjoying the outdoors, a little awareness can go along way. 

To help keep everyone – people and pets – safe and happy during the summer months, follow these dog bite prevention tips from Snohomish County Animal Services:

• Always ask before approaching someone else’s dog.

• Teach children to be cautious and respectful around dogs.

• Keep your dog leashed in public spaces.

• Watch for signs of stress in your dog, like panting, yawning or stiff posture.

• Give dogs space – even friendly ones need room to feel safe.

If a dog bite does occur, it's important to report it immediately to your local animal services agency. You can find your animal services agency using our interactive service area map at snoco.org/animalservices. 

 

 

This past March, election administrators from across the state gathered in Snohomish County’s new Elections Center for Elections 101 (E101), a state-led training on election administration organized by the Washington Secretary of State’s Office.  

The E101 training course is part of Washington’s Certification and Training Program, which ensures election integrity by training and certifying election administrators, standardizing and promoting consistent application of election practices across the state, and providing ongoing support and education to strengthen the state’s election processes.

According to Washington State law, each county must have at least two Certified Election Administrators on staff. To achieve and maintain certification, election officials must pass a comprehensive exam, complete the multi-day orientation class, have two years of experience working in elections, and complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years. In Snohomish County, all full-time Elections Division staff are Certified Election Administrators. 

Snohomish County Elections was grateful for the opportunity to host the Washington Secretary of State’s Office and our fellow election professionals from across the state. It was an excellent opportunity to reinforce and demonstrate our commitment to supporting and conducting accurate, secure, and transparent elections. 

For more information and to learn more about the Auditor's Office, you can view our annual reports on our website at snoco.org/auditor. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X. For additional questions, please email us at auditor@snoco.org.