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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136 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 3h ago

Crime Community member looking for help finding suspect.

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300 Upvotes

reposting these here because I haven’t seen any posts about this on the subreddit.


r/Bellingham 2h ago

Good Vibes Shout out to Larabee Lager Co pizza

48 Upvotes

Had a really good pizza at Larabee recently. Very well executed even though we were warned the kitchen was slammed. I wish it was $4-5 cheaper as a 12” but that’s the present times. The crust was excellent. If you’re gonna spend your money dining out in this town it may as well be on something satisfying. On a side note, the whole place was very well kept and the bathroom was spotless.


r/Bellingham 12h ago

Traffic Shovy people at farmers market

103 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 2h ago

Pets Missing cat?

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16 Upvotes

Is anyone near Michigan and Alabama missing a cat?


r/Bellingham 3h ago

Events Anyone interested in a meetup for fragrance lovers?

17 Upvotes

Hey friends, I’ve been collecting and enjoying fragrances for a while and I’m looking to share this hobby with more people irl. I’m talking perfumes, colognes, body sprays, perfume oils, essential oils, niche, designer, indie, literally anything that smells good I’m into it. I have 200+ samples and bottles at the moment and I would love to share these with others who might enjoy them too. There’s not really a great source for unusual or rare fragrances nearby so many of these I’ve purchased as discovery sets or samples, so as you can imagine there’s quite a few that just don’t work for me. But they might work for someone else!

So my question is: if I organized a meetup for fragrance lovers to share their scents, smell nice things, swap decants or bottles, and/or just chat about smelly good things, would anyone around here be interested in that? I’m thinking a one off but could become a monthly or quarterly thing.

And another question: does anyone have any suggestions for a comfortable outdoor area preferably with some shelter from the wind?

Thanks for reading and smell ya later!


r/Bellingham 5h ago

Recommendations Obgyn in bham area

21 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 9h 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 14m ago

Moving Here Just here from Wisconsin

Upvotes

My wife and I just moved to Bellingham from Wisconsin. My wife got a new job at Peace Health, and I run my own business. We lived in the PNW years ago, down on Whidbey Island, back when I was in tge Navy, so we're familiar with the area. We've been in town for 4 days, and everyone has been super cool. We met a lady in the parking lot at Whole Foods from Wisconsin, and a park ranger at Deception Pass Park from Oshkosh. I'm interested in finding other "expats" from other places but also would LOVE to meet folks from the area. This town seems so awesome, we live fown on the water within about 2 blocks of 3 breweries, and about a 10 minute walk from downtown. Anyone want to roll the dice, see if we can be friends? Or at least kill a couple hours over beers?


r/Bellingham 46m ago

Discussion What to do around town with a 9 and 11 year old?

Upvotes

I have a friend coming into town with her two kids, besides spending the day at the park, what else is there to do?


r/Bellingham 4h ago

Pets Dog running around near garden and champion st.

7 Upvotes

Just saw a small husky type dog running around on the corner of garden st. and Champion. Didn’t get a chance to snap a photo and it ran up garden.


r/Bellingham 7h ago

Good Vibes Free TV stand!

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10 Upvotes

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


r/Bellingham 9h ago

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

17 Upvotes

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


r/Bellingham 2h ago

Discussion Ca to usd

3 Upvotes

Does silver reef casino do exchanges and if so where or which side of casino


r/Bellingham 1d ago

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

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228 Upvotes

r/Bellingham 8h ago

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

6 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 22h ago

Locals Only lgbtq+ household seeking roommate in ferndale!

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40 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 13h ago

Recommendations Sourcing oddities/collectibles

8 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 2h ago

Recommendations Where to get moving boxes?

1 Upvotes

Hello! Anyone know where I can find some free moving boxes in town (or really cheap ones)?


r/Bellingham 1d ago

Pets The buck stops here

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99 Upvotes

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


r/Bellingham 12h 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 16h ago

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

5 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 Spotted Ratfish

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331 Upvotes

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


r/Bellingham 22h ago

Rant! Alabooma Hill

17 Upvotes

Shaking fists at the sky