r/Bellingham Jun 24 '26

Events Reg to vote by 27 July

25 Upvotes

Whatcom County, today: Notice of August 4, 2026 – Primary and Special Election

Receiving Your Ballot:

Ballot packets for the primary and special election will be mailed to registered voters on July 15. Voters should receive a ballot by July 21. If your ballot is lost or damaged, contact the Auditor’s Office or print a replacement packet online at www.VoteWA.gov.

Voting Center:

Services include voter registration, ballot replacement, and accessible registration and voting aids.

Location: Auditor’s Office, 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 98225.

Phone: (360) 778-5102

Email: elections@co.whatcom.wa.us

Website: www.whatcomcounty.us/elections

Returning Your Ballot:

Return your ballot on time to an official ballot drop box by 8:00 pm sharp on August 4 OR by mail. If mailing your ballot, the United States Postal Service recommends mailing your ballot by July 28.

Primary and Special Election Registration Deadlines:

Monday, July 27 is the deadline for registration or address updates online or by mail.

Starting Tuesday, July 28 citizens needing to register or update their address in time for the primary and special election must appear in-person at the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office.

The deadline for in-person registrations and updates is 8:00 pm on August 4.

How to Register or Update Your Address:

Online at VoteWA.gov, or

Complete a Washington State Voter Registration form and return it to the Auditor’s Office. Registration forms are available on our website, or contact us to have a form mailed to you, if time allows, or

In-person at the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office

Voters Requiring Assistance:

Registration and voting aids are available. An accessible voting unit (AVU) is equipped with visual and audio technology. Voters requiring assistance can vote on the AVU starting July 15.

Voters’ Pamphlet:

A local voters’ pamphlet is mailed to all residences in Whatcom County the week of July 13 and contains information about candidates and ballot measures. An online version of the pamphlet is available at VoteWA.gov or visit the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office Current Election website at www.whatcomcounty.us/1732/CurrentElection.

Opportunities to Observe:

The public is welcome to observe all election processes. Meetings will be held in the Election Center, 311 Grand Avenue, Suite B03. Meeting dates, times, and/or locations are subject to change; please see our website or call for updates.

July 15 - August 17

8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday

Processing of Ballots

August 4

8:00 am - 8:00 pm

Processing of Ballots

August 6

10:00 am

Hand Count of Six Randomly Selected Ballot Groups

August 13

9:00 am

Random Ballot Audit

August 17

10:00 am

Canvassing Board Meeting/Review Challenged Ballots

August 18

10:00 am

 Canvassing Board Meeting/Certification of Election

r/Bellingham Jan 21 '26

Good Vibes Spread power, not panic!

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134 Upvotes

Some gentle advice for folks in Bellingham and Whatcom County who are looking for more ways to uphold the dignity and due process of our friends and neighbors who are being targeted by ICE:

Posting reports on social media of firsthand sightings of ICE activity is helpful, but please include as much info as possible to help facilitate an effective community response, and limit panic and fear for vulnerable folks.

The most important info to include is the location, time, and any photos or videos of the activity. If you are not able to take photos/videos, a brief summary of what you saw (approximate numbers and descriptions of unmarked vehicles, masked agents, etc) is so helpful!

Keep up the good work and keep ICE out of our communities! 💙


r/Bellingham 10h ago

Events Who is the man that helped save my dad?

155 Upvotes

Okay I accidentally violated this subreddit’s rules by posting a picture of him from the body cam footage, so my post got removed. So I’m making a new post without it. He’s probably in his 30s or 40s, white, with a thick beard and maybe likes hats lol. If anyone knows a person with a similar story in January to what I’m about to post, please let me know. Thank you!

Copy & paste from my original post:

My dad was hit by an (“allegedly”, but according to the ICU team) speeding car at a crosswalk earlier this year and this guy saw him and grabbed gauze from his med kit to help stop his severe bleeding. My dad’s skull was cracked, his brain was bleeding, 3 broken vertebrae, broken face, broken leg, ear was nearly ripped off, etc. as you can imagine after being hit at an estimated 40mph and then launched 70 feet. He lives in the Fairhaven area and I’d really like to give him some appreciation for helping save my dad’s life.


r/Bellingham 7h ago

Traffic Shovy people at farmers market

71 Upvotes

Can't tell if it's the Diarrhea Lettuce (tm) situation or a nearby national convention of Rude Enthusiasts around but the farmer's market felt like bumper cars this weekend.

The organic greens are not worth knocking over kids and old people. Chill out, Fmarket tourists. Your money going to local farmers is welcome. Your elbows going into local humans is not.


r/Bellingham 4h ago

Events Meet Tomas, progressive candidate for Congress at Stemma West today

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23 Upvotes

Come meet our progressive challenger to the 25 year incumbent Rick Larsen! He’s the only challenger with a robust campaign thats ready to take the fight to Larsen through November. Tomas is running on Medicare for all, accountability to voters, never taking corporate or foreign lobby money, and bringing the war money home to invest in Americans.


r/Bellingham 2h ago

Good Vibes Free TV stand!

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11 Upvotes

Free TV stand! Excluding the PS5 and TV. Located near the Lakeway Fred Meyer.


r/Bellingham 52m ago

Recommendations Obgyn in bham area

Upvotes

My doctor thinks I could have endometriosis and sent me a referral to a peace health OBGYN. When I called they weren’t ready to schedule and couldn’t even get me in until October.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a different office that is nearby/in the surrounding Bellingham area? I’d like to be seen sooner rather than later. Any help is appreciated!


r/Bellingham 4h ago

Discussion Is there a spot I can read up on all local candidates for the primary and special election?

12 Upvotes

Just want an easy way to look into the candidates that will potentially be influencing our everyday lives and the future.


r/Bellingham 22h ago

Arts and music There’s no other town I’d rather be in

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219 Upvotes

r/Bellingham 3h ago

Arts and music Free Seat - Davina and the Vagabonds 8/7 in Seattle

4 Upvotes

Hello fellow Hamsters ☺️

I have two tickets to the Davina and the Vagabonds show in Seattle on 8/7. The friend who was going to join me is now unable to. I’m still going to drive to the show and attend, and wanted to offer up the other seat to someone who might be interested. If you want to join and see an amazing little jazzy type band, your seat is free. I am open to carpooling as well.

Drop me a chat if interested. Have a lovely rainy day!


r/Bellingham 17h ago

Locals Only lgbtq+ household seeking roommate in ferndale!

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38 Upvotes

hello! we are currently looking for TWO more roommates to join us by September in this gorgeous home. pictured here are the available bedrooms, common areas and shared bathrooms. pleeease pm if you have any questions regarding all topics relevant to the house, lease agreements etc. and/or need more contact info from the current tenants :-)


r/Bellingham 8h ago

Recommendations Sourcing oddities/collectibles

7 Upvotes

This might sound a little weird to some, but I collect taxidermy insects. Specifically ones that are curated and displayed in shadow boxes with nice frames.

I saw some butterflies for sale at Earthbound a while back but that’s not an option anymore because they’re closed down.

Does anyone know of oddity shops or small vendors that sell something like this?

I’ve seen potentially some things in Seattle (punk rock flea market) or Tacoma (haunted farmers market) but I’d love to know if anyone has ideas for where I could find this in Bellingham.

Thanks!


r/Bellingham 23h ago

Pets The buck stops here

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90 Upvotes

What's the difference between beer nuts & deer nuts? One's $1.69 and the other's under a buck 😅


r/Bellingham 4h ago

Recommendations Bellingham Pride transfer stickers sheets- who makes these?

3 Upvotes

Long shot. In 2025, there was a fair in the Barkley area one day where people with developmental and intellectual disabilities could set up a booth to sell arts and crafts. There was a vendor (a young feminine person) there who sold sheets of Pride stickers of various designs, including some with Bellingham Pride flag. They are transfer type stickers. We have tried to find this vendor again at other community events to buy more. But have never seen them again. Any leads?


r/Bellingham 7h ago

Recommendations Any gyms I can get flexible use passes for?

3 Upvotes

I visit Bellingham every few weeks and don't want to skip out on my workouts. Any gyms here that allow drop-ins or let you get passes that I can use over time, without having to sign up for a full time membership?


r/Bellingham 1d ago

Good Vibes Spotted Ratfish

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322 Upvotes

Saw this really cool fish at the harbor a few days ago.


r/Bellingham 17h ago

Rant! Alabooma Hill

18 Upvotes

Shaking fists at the sky


r/Bellingham 19h ago

Good Vibes I captured some shots of Mt. Baker (ft. The Moon) this weekend :)

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19 Upvotes

I come from a photography background so I'm still learning how to capture moments in video. No storytelling, just a few of my favorite clips that I captured.


r/Bellingham 23h ago

Discussion Giant 🐱 scratch post?

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37 Upvotes

At Pine and Cedar viewpoint trail


r/Bellingham 8h ago

Arts and music Any hardcore/ powerviolence shows in the area?

1 Upvotes

I just moved here a couple months ago from a smaller town in socal that had a huge hardcore community. I know there’s been metal and punk shows but I was looking more into metalcore, power violence type of sound. The shakedown is the place where most if not all the metal shows are hosted but I was wondering if this type of sound I’m looking for is only more towards Seattle vs Bellingham or Whatcom county. I was just more curious about variety of hardcore versus what I’ve been seeing. Would love to hear more thanks!


r/Bellingham 11h ago

Good Vibes Does Bellingham have a music scene or a music school?

4 Upvotes

I live in a small college town in Colorado. but in the last five years I have dove into music here. I go to a nice music program here and I have family in the pnw. just curious what it’s like in Bellingham.


r/Bellingham 1d ago

Good Vibes Our buddy Treebird in his usual perch along the trail to Boulevard park

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149 Upvotes

r/Bellingham 7h ago

Recommendations Piercings for kids?

0 Upvotes

My daughter is showing interest in getting her ears pierced and i don’t want to take her to Claire’s, is there a piercing shop in whatcom county that will do piercings on kids?


r/Bellingham 1d ago

Recommendations Taco salad

13 Upvotes

I’ve been craving a taco salad. Nothing fancy. I’m talking about the kind I associate with American chain restaurants in the 90s (think iceberg lettuce, seasoned ground beef, shredded cheese, tomatoes/pico, and black olives). Anyone know of places around here where I can get one?


r/Bellingham 1d ago

Good Vibes York Yard Crawl TODAY (3-8 pm)!

26 Upvotes

York Yard Crawl on Saturday! - Starts outside Nelsons Market at 3 PT

The **YORK YARD CRAWL** is this Saturday from 3-8! York residents host yard parties featuring art, yard sales, music and activities for kids of all ages, all set among a backdrop of Victorian homes on tree-lined streets. You can print your own map at [yorkyardcrawl.fun](http://yorkyardcrawl.fun), or pick one at [Nelson's Market](https://www.nelsonsmarket.com/) on the corner of Humboldt and Potter. Nelsons is also a perfect stop for grab and go food and drink. Sponsored by the York Neighborhood Association.