Have you ever been to a primary care doctor and wondered why they focus on treating symptoms instead of addressing the root cause of your illness? Rather than take a patient-centered approach to address questions like, “Why are you ill?” they prescribe medications that alleviate symptoms but don’t do much to solve the underlying issue that’s causing you to be sick.
When you have a runny nose, you’re handed an antihistamine. When you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, you’re prescribed a pill that treats the number. The truth is that this approach only tackles your symptoms. When the root cause isn’t fixed, your symptoms can get exponentially worse. Remember - your body’s dysfunction isn’t due to your meds not working.
This begs the question: Wouldn't you rather address the underlying cause of your health concerns so you can experience long-term relief? As a naturopathic doctor in Bellingham, WA, Dr. Erica Oberg takes a functional approach to medicine and well-being instead of treating the symptoms her patients endure.
Health is a state of vibrant vitality, abundant energy, and positive affect. It can be learned, cultivated, and practiced by everyone. Dr. Oberg's approach to health and medicine combines the rigors of science with the wisdom of nature and our bodies. She is passionate about helping people experience a higher level of health and vitality. As such, her clinical practice focuses on preventing, reversing, and taming chronic disease, neuro-degeneration, and anti-aging.
Dr. Oberg specializes in nutrition & lifestyle, IV therapy, and identifying the underlying causes of disease using advanced testing and creating customized treatment plans to help individuals dial in their lifestyle, dietary supplements, peptides, bioidentical hormones, anti-aging pharmaceuticals, and more. If you’re looking for individualized, science-based, proactive functional, integrative, or natural medicine, we believe you’ll resonate with Dr. Oberg and work your way through life’s challenges with help from our functional medicine clinic in Bellingham, WA.
Dr. Oberg and her team of licensed providers specialize in a range of naturopathic and science-based services, including but not limited to:
If you're ready to reclaim your vitality and learn more about Dr. Oberg's approach to health and medicine, we make it easy to get started. The first step is to have a complimentary 15-minute phone call to ask questions and determine if her approach is a good fit. Once Dr. Oberg understands your health needs and goals, your journey to optimal health and wellness truly begins.
Now that you know more about what makes Dr. Oberg different from other physicians, let's dig a little deeper into some of the most popular programs and clinical services offered at her functional medicine clinic.
As people get older, many things change in life. Often, those changes are good, like having more self-control, financial freedom, and patience. Others are hard to deal with, especially when they're out of our control. Like all things in life, our hormones change when we get older. These fluctuations can cause problems for both men and women, including:
If those symptoms sound familiar, you're not alone. A 2019 American Psychological Association survey found that almost half of women aged 30 to 60 in the US have experienced symptoms of a hormonal imbalance. Of course, as men age, they suffer from imbalanced hormones, too. Research from BodyLogicMD states that nearly 38% of males in America aged 45 and older have a testosterone deficiency.
The good news is that balancing your hormones and addressing the root cause of your symptoms doesn’t have to be hard. It’s a realistic goal with Dr. Oberg by your side. As a functional medicine doctor in Bellingham, WA, she can help your body metabolize and detoxify both your own hormones and the endocrine-disrupting chemicals infiltrating your life. When your hormones are in harmony, you experience improved energy, mood, and overall health – and that’s something to be excited about.
Our comprehensive Three-Month Hormone Balancing Program is designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools to take control of your hormonal health. This is no "one-and-done service" - it's a holistic journey that spans three transformative months, offering the support and guidance to become confident, capable, and healthier than ever. Features of our hormone balancing program include:
You will receive support throughout your journey from Dr. Oberg, who will provide healthcare services, and our health coaches, who offers personalized coaching tailored to your specific needs.
Nutrition has a significant impact on hormonal health. A customized hormone-balancing diet plan will be provided to help nourish the body optimally based on individual goals.
We provide a range of practical strategies and tips for regulating hormone balance through your nervous system. These techniques aim to empower you to take control of your well-being.
When appropriate, we’ll prescribe you hormone replacement therapy (HRT), testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), or growth hormone peptide therapy to help balance your hormones.
At our functional medical office, we make it a point to correct the root causes of our patient's problems. We don't treat symptoms - but we do use them to figure out the underlying issues you're facing. If you notice any of the following symptoms, it could be time to consider HRT.
When you mention hormone replacement therapy, most people think the treatment is exclusively for females going through menopause. While that's partially true - HRT can relieve night sweats, hot flashes, and other menopause-related problems - men also deal with imbalanced hormones.
Testosterone plays a crucial role in male sexual health. Low levels can result in decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and other sexual performance issues. Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection may be a sign of imbalanced hormones or low testosterone levels.
When your sleep patterns change - like when you have trouble falling or staying asleep - it could be a sign of a hormone imbalance. Testosterone is involved in regulating the sleep cycle, and insufficient levels of it can disrupt quality rest.
Imbalances in hormones can affect mental health and mood. If a man shows signs of irritability, mood swings, or depression, it could indicate low testosterone or other hormonal issues. Hormone replacement therapy can help regulate mood by balancing your hormone levels.
Menopause happens when a woman has not had a menstrual cycle for at least 12 consecutive months. It is a result of declining sex hormone levels, causing the ovaries to stop releasing egg cells. During menopause, women face a range of challenges.
Testosterone plays a crucial role in male sexual health. Low levels can result in decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and other sexual performance issues. Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection may be a sign of imbalanced hormones or low testosterone levels.
Irregular menstrual cycles are a common sign that women are nearing menopause, and their hormone levels may be shifting. The frequency of their periods may increase or decrease, and the amount of bleeding could be more or less than usual, while also lasting for a shorter or longer time.
Hot flashes are perhaps the most well-known symptom of menopause and a frequent sign that a woman's hormones are imbalanced. Hot flashes are sudden feelings of warmth and sweating that are usually most intense on your face, neck, and chest.
Don't let hormone imbalances dictate your life. Take the first step towards reclaiming your balance, energy, and vitality. By working together with Dr. Oberg and her team, you can unlock the path to a healthier, more harmonious you.
When you choose Dr. Oberg as your naturopathic doctor in Bellingham, WA, a new world of healthy living and wellness options are at your disposal. One of the most popular and effective ways to give your body the goodness it needs is with custom IV therapy at our functional medicine office.
Customized IV therapy from Dr. Oberg is all about tailoring your treatment to meet your health goals and needs. Unlike one-size-fits-all IV clinics, our team considers factors like nutrient deficiencies, hydration levels, and overall health to create a customized infusion. This personalized approach gives you better and more applicable results, whether you're looking to get a boost of energy, fortify your immune system, or get relief from a specific ailment.
Your custom IV therapy begins with a consultation with Dr. Oberg. During your initial meeting, we’ll get a better sense of what your brain and body needs. From there, we’ll create a custom infusion for you – not just a formula that matches your height, weight, and age.
Our IV drip therapy menu includes infusions such as:
IV therapy is considered one of the best ways to get the nutrients and immune-boosting goodness your body needs because it gives you a more direct, efficient means of delivery. Unlike oral supplement, which often falls short due to digestive limitations, IV therapy ensures swift and comprehensive nutrient absorption. Some of the biggest benefits of IV therapy from a functional medicine doctor in Bellingham, WA include the following:
IV fluids and electrolytes rapidly hydrate your body, providing an efficient remedy for dehydration resulting from illness, physical activity, or excessive alcohol intake.
IV treatment is able to increase energy and fight tiredness, which can make you feel re-energized.
IV infusions containing immune-enhancing vitamins and antioxidants can fortify your immune system and assist in recovering from illness.
IV therapy containing growth factors, exosomes, and vitamins is effective in improving the health and appearance of the skin and hair. These components complement hair and facial microneedling treatments exceptionally well.
IV therapy can help reduce the symptoms of toxic exposure, like headaches, nausea, fatigue, and dehydration, whether it's from a basic hangover or prolonged exposure to molds, heavy metals, or other toxins.
Dr. Oberg’s personalized IV infusions can serve as an initial boost for making lifestyle changes and play a role in a sustained plan to control persistent conditions like diabetes, autoimmune disorders, cancer, heart disease, and others.
Support Mitochondria function and Anti-aging
Dr. Oberg offers carefully sourced and research backed regenerative therapies such as exosome and stem cell infusions. These can be powerful options for people recovering from chronic infections such as long COVID or Epstein Barr or Lyme. They are also powerful for neuro-regeneration and we frequently use them in stroke recovery and for traumatic brain injury.
Dr. Oberg offers personalized IV micronutrient therapy tailored to address specific nutritional deficiencies, hydration needs, and overall health. This therapy is based on advanced testing that evaluates your cells' nutrient levels. Whether you need more energy, a stronger immune system, or relief from different health issues, IV drip therapy can be customized to help you rediscover the very best version of yourself.
As we get older, our bodies experience a range of changes that affect our health and appearance. These changes are primarily caused by issues with mitochondria and cellular aging. However, there have been significant developments in regenerative medicine, offering the potential to turn back the hands of time and improve health. Schedule a consultation today with Dr. Oberg to begin your journey with regenerative medicine.
Regenerative medicine is an exciting, innovative field that centers on activating your body's innate regenerative abilities to repair and revitalize tissues, cells, and organs. Its focus is on improving your body's natural healing processes to counteract the impacts of aging and different health issues. If you find that old, nagging injuries won’t go away or that fine lines and wrinkles have become overwhelming, anti-aging medicine from a functional medicine doctor in Bellingham, WA may be perfect for you.
At our naturopathic medical office, we use treatments like IV therapy, hormone replacement therapy, and Peptide Therapy to manage a broad array of health and aesthetic concerns. These treatments can aid in tissue repair, inflammation reduction, and enhancement of cellular function.
Anti-aging services offered at our functional medicine clinic include the following:
Peptides are fundamental components of proteins and play a crucial role in various biological processes, such as the aging process. Dr. Oberg offers peptide treatments to help counteract age-related decline, enhance muscle growth and performance, improve skin health, and more.
When you bring your hormones back into balance, you can fight back against issues such as fatigue, mood swings, reduced libido, and even erectile dysfunction.
Replenish vital nutrients, antioxidants, and hydration for improved energy levels, skin health, and immune support.
Exosomes are tiny vesicles generated from mesenchymal stem cells. These vesicles serve as powerful communicators, transmitting signals to various tissues in the body. Their main function is to trigger healing, regeneration, and repair processes, mimicking the actions of younger cells. They are considered to be one of the most effective strategies for combating the aging process.
When nutrition guidance, lifestyle adaptations, and powerful supplements are combined with naturopathic medical therapies from Dr. Oberg, you can reverse chronic diseases in your life and reach your anti-aging goals.
Our goal with regenerative medicine treatments is to rejuvenate deteriorating or aging tissue. Our approach to treatment centers on fixing and reversing damage instead of solely addressing symptoms like pain. Regenerative medicine harnesses the power of healthy cells to renew and restore function by enhancing the body's innate capacity for self-healing.
Dr. Oberg uses regenerative medicine to treat a range of issues, both aesthetic and injury-related, including the following:
Experience the future of anti-aging and regenerative medicine with Dr. Erica Oberg. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and embark on your journey to a healthier, more youthful you.
When you visit our functional medicine clinic, you can rest easy knowing Dr. Erica Oberg uses her unique skills, knowledge, and naturopathic principles for the betterment of your health and well-being. Unlike many traditional primary care providers, our team combines the best aspects of traditional wisdom and modern scientific medicine to diagnose, treat, and prevent chronic diseases.
You don't have to worry about us suggesting addictive pain medications or treatments that simply mask your aesthetic or medical challenges. Instead, our goal is to address the underlying factors holding you back. If you're ready to take the first step toward purposeful progress and healthy living, contact us today.
A new restaurant is opening in Fairhaven on Wednesday, Oct. 30, bringing entertainment and bright flavors to the historic Bellingham village.Sugar & Co., an “American Bistro that blends familiar comfort foods with unexpected flavors and high-quality ingredients,” was launched by Brie and Evan Mueller, a husband-and-wife duo who have lived in Bellingham for 16 years.Brie, a local real estate agent and now restaurant owner, also owns her ...
A new restaurant is opening in Fairhaven on Wednesday, Oct. 30, bringing entertainment and bright flavors to the historic Bellingham village.
Sugar & Co., an “American Bistro that blends familiar comfort foods with unexpected flavors and high-quality ingredients,” was launched by Brie and Evan Mueller, a husband-and-wife duo who have lived in Bellingham for 16 years.
Brie, a local real estate agent and now restaurant owner, also owns her own Bellingham cabaret, Sugar. Evan is a theater professor at Western Washington University. The couple decided to start Sugar and Co. as the idea of opening a restaurant fell into their laps after the previous restaurant in the location, Milano’s Italian Restaurant, closed in September.
“I think we’re a little crazy,” Brie told The Bellingham Herald. “I had been in the restaurant industry for about 27 years before I decided to go into real estate. And the past owner of Milanos had reached out to me as a real estate agent to see if I could sell her business. ... and so we sort of started talking, and we’re like, we could actually make this happen. And so we started the process rolling,”
The couple began working on the restaurant when Milano’s closed in September, taking less than 2 months to flip the old space into a completely new restaurant and entertainment hub.
“I couldn’t believe what my husband actually was like talking about it, and I will say ‘til the day I die, he definitely was the first one who brought it up. He doesn’t believe that, but I was, like, I definitely was not the first person. So it just kind of and then it just started rolling, and now we’re opening.”
Once entering through the restaurant’s hot pink door, guests are welcomed into a sophisticated space, as a historic rolling library ladder adorns a full bar and a floral printed wall. The restaurant’s gold, black and pink accents are playfully garnished with white, fluffy feathers on each table and plush chairs along the wooden bar.
Sugar & Co.’s decor ties into the spunky, sophisticated and warm experience Brie hopes to provide visitors, and that they will share with others.
“I just think that Bellingham just needs a little spunk. I think this is going to liven it up a little bit more. My hope is that people come in and enjoy amazing service, because that’s what I’m all about, and amazing food. And get to leave with an experience, and go to somebody in Portland and be like, ‘Oh, my God, you have to go to this restaurant in Bellingham!’” Brie said.
“I want it to be a staple, where people have good food and good experiences, it’s what I’m about. And I think what we’re about here,” Brie said.
The Muellers also built a stage into the back of the restaurant for live music and entertainment, and eventually plan to add specials and brunch to their offerings.
As for the menu, the restaurant will serve a variety of dishes such as oysters, filet mignon, chicken milanese, lamb burgers, pistachio-crusted herb fish, chocolate pot de crème, cotton candy and ice cream. A kids menu is also available.
The restaurant’s bar will have wine, beer and ciders, as well as craft cocktails such as “DollFace Daiquiri,” “Sugar’s Juice,” “That’s That Me Espresso Martini,” and “Tabi’s Old Fashioned,” according to the restaurant’s website.
As Brie longs for visitors to leave feeling full and satisfied, her highest priority is creating a “fun, delicious and sassy environment” where everyone feels welcome.
“I want them to feel seen like and taken care of. I want them to feel tantalized, and I want them to leave feeling deliciously full,” Brie said.
“Just come and check us out and show us some love, and we promise to take care of you no matter what,” Brie said.
Sugar & Co. is open for all ages and will have its grand opening at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30. The restaurant will regularly be open from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 1210 11th St. in Bellingham’s Fairhaven Village.
This story was originally published October 29, 2024, 3:06 PM.
October 29, 2024 11:50 AM
A raft of mud slid onto Interstate 5 early Sunday as rains hammered Bellingham, leading to a roughly 10-hour closure of the arterial route.Crews cleared the roughly 2,000 cubic yards of mud, and a tow truck removed the cab and trailer of a semi truck that had been stuck in the muck. Washington State Patrol Trooper Rommie Smith said there were no injuries.Smith said he was informed of the slide just north of Iowa Street around 4:40 a.m. About 6 inches of mud and tree debris were fully blocking the northbound lanes, Smith said. O...
A raft of mud slid onto Interstate 5 early Sunday as rains hammered Bellingham, leading to a roughly 10-hour closure of the arterial route.
Crews cleared the roughly 2,000 cubic yards of mud, and a tow truck removed the cab and trailer of a semi truck that had been stuck in the muck. Washington State Patrol Trooper Rommie Smith said there were no injuries.
Smith said he was informed of the slide just north of Iowa Street around 4:40 a.m. About 6 inches of mud and tree debris were fully blocking the northbound lanes, Smith said. One southbound lane was closed after the surge of mud forced concrete barriers into the southbound lanes.
Southbound and northbound lanes fully reopened by 3 p.m.
In the meantime, traffic was diverted into the city, bogging down local streets.
“It was pretty gnarly,” said Jake Neves, 21, who was commuting into Coconut Kenny’s around noon. “I was hitting traffic that I’ve never hit before.”
More than 2 inches of rain fell Sunday morning at Bellingham International Airport, already the second-wettest October day on record.
The airport recorded about 1.75 inches in just two hours early Sunday morning, said Matthew Cullen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.
Around 2 a.m. it started coming down “gangbusters” there, state Climatologist Emeritus Nick Bond said in a phone call Sunday.
“Just a deluge of biblical proportions there for about an hour,” he said.
The 2.22 inches that fell in 24 hours, ending at 5 a.m. Sunday, is tied for No. 17 in the record at the Bellingham airport, Bond found in an analysis. More than half of that came in just a single hour, ending at 3 a.m. Since the turn of the 21st century, there has not been an hour that has come close to the total of 1.42 inches that fell shortly before the slide, Bond said.
For comparison, Bellingham received about 20 times as much precipitation as the northeast Olympic Peninsula, in the rain shadow of the Olympic mountains.
A downpour of this intensity can make some of the softer landscapes in the Puget Sound region more prone to slides, Bond said.
As the planet warms, Bond said, the top 1% of the storms will account for a greater proportion of the rain. In other words, the Pacific Northwest can expect more intense storms. This is already being seen in other parts of the country. It’s similar to hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean — there haven’t been more hurricanes as a result of climate change, Bond said, but more of the hurricanes that do form are more likely to be stronger storms.
Isabella Breda: 206-652-6536 or ibreda@seattletimes.com; Seattle Times staff reporter Isabella Breda covers the environment.
We are proud to present "Blue Ribbon", a public trail located on Galbraith Mountain in Bellingham, WA. This project is the culmination of years of permitting work, hours of machine time, and finished off by selfless volunteer work. Watch the video above to learn about how it came to be, and come visit us in Bellingham to catch a lap down this mind bending trail!Step 1: All trails require one thing, a corridor.To establish ours for this project we worked with local trail advocacy group, the WMBC, to obtain permits and ...
We are proud to present "Blue Ribbon", a public trail located on Galbraith Mountain in Bellingham, WA. This project is the culmination of years of permitting work, hours of machine time, and finished off by selfless volunteer work. Watch the video above to learn about how it came to be, and come visit us in Bellingham to catch a lap down this mind bending trail!
Step 1: All trails require one thing, a corridor.
To establish ours for this project we worked with local trail advocacy group, the WMBC, to obtain permits and find a window of time for construction. All said and done, this took nearly four years from when we kicked off the project proposal to when we broke ground. During that time we walked the proposed zone, looking for the right grade to create the flow we were after. With the planning and layout completed, the trail building mastermind, Nico Vink, arrived to start breaking ground.
Step 2: Realize it's too much work for one person and call your friends.
We quickly realized it would be too much work for Nico so we called in TR GiddyUp ambassadors Teddy Jaramillo and Henry Lanman. They run a trail building operation in New Mexico, and were the perfect people to get on the job. Nico had always wanted to work with a crew of three and this project lined up perfect for that. Henry ran the big excavator clearing corridor and mining dirt while Teddy followed creating general shapes for Nico to finish and fine tune in his machine.
Step 3: Dig 'till you can't dig anymore, then dig a little more.
Nico, Henry and Ted were able to work for a solid month of spring, 2023, before the dirt became too dry to continue shaping. Nico then returned to Belgium to ride his bike and process the work he had already completed on Blue Ribbon. Giving him a summer to visualize the flow he had in mind for the trail. With some refreshed energy, he returned to Bellingham that Fall to complete the machine work on the trail. Countless days ensued with the help of WMBC's Ryan Joslyn to create the final shapes that you can ride on Blue Ribbon today.
Step 4: Find every available shovel and pair of hands to butter up the trail after the winter.
With all the machine work in the past, it was time for us and the community to get our hands dirty and butter up the remaining bits of the trail. Nico had done almost 95% of the work with the machine, but a few transitions still needed some shaping. With the help of the community and a company dig day the trail took its final transformations and was ready to ride.
Step 5: Open the trail to the world, and get some laps!
After battling with some wacky Spring weather, we finally opened Blue Ribbon in June of 2024. Thanks to everyone who helped along the way and came out for the opening celebration. And a huge shout to Nico Vink for his relentless work and contributing to making this community better and better.
This trail was a huge effort, and we are stoked to give it to the community. Hope to see you out there soon! You can find the trail HERE. Grab your friends and check it out this Fall!
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Update about Health Insurance ChangesPosted Nov 4, 2024Hello St. Joe's Nurses!This is a quick overview of where we are with the issue of insurance changes.What Is Happening With Our InsuranceWSNA was not given adequate notice or information over the changes to our insurance. We do not find the plan substantially equivalent to our former plan. We are disappointed with the employer’s obfuscation of the plan changes prior to implementation. We issued a demand to bargain on October 25th and have not r...
Posted Nov 4, 2024
Hello St. Joe's Nurses!
This is a quick overview of where we are with the issue of insurance changes.
WSNA was not given adequate notice or information over the changes to our insurance. We do not find the plan substantially equivalent to our former plan. We are disappointed with the employer’s obfuscation of the plan changes prior to implementation. We issued a demand to bargain on October 25th and have not received a response from the employer at this time.
Overall, the fixed costs go up for both nurse and employer about 10% for the PPO and ABHP plans, however the out of pocket, dependent and deductibles go up substantially. The EPO plan has far higher increases in the cost to employees when it comes to adding dependents. All plans limit who we can see primarily to Peace Health Providers. Increase in cost for us, increase in business for them.
Firstly, sign up for benefits as you would normally do. As much as we don’t agree with the change and will be bargaining, comply with the process as the employer has laid out for now.
Secondly, take this quick survey to help us identify how this affects you: While we cannot guarantee any outcomes, we can push the employer to do the right thing and bargain with us in good faith. We need to know how this affects as many people as possible to make these changes.
Lastly, we have identified a small group of members to meet with the employer and voice our concerns, please contact your local Unit Officers to be part of that group: https://www.wsna.org/union
For good measure, here is the timeline and why we are irate with Peace Health’s bad faith in discussing these changes with us:
9/24 - Peace Health Notified WSNA and nurses of the planned changes at the same time.9/24, 10/14, 10/18, 10/21 – WSNA requested more information to assess that the plan was substantially equivalent.10/14 – Peace Health released generic information to nurses at the same time it gave to WSNA.10/23 – Peace Health finally provided substantive information to WSNA to review plan.10/25 – WSNA reviewed plan and finds it wanting. We demand to bargain.
We hear your concerns. Please reach out to your local unit officers as well as your nurse rep with any questions.
For some, voting by mail can be an easy and convenient way to cast a ballot in an election. But what if you’re concerned that your ballot got misplaced, or lost in the mail? Turns out, there’s a way to address that.Washington allows you to track your ballot online through its voter portal, which you can access at voter.votewa.gov. You can log in with your first name, last name and date of birth, and it will provide information about your registration and bal...
For some, voting by mail can be an easy and convenient way to cast a ballot in an election. But what if you’re concerned that your ballot got misplaced, or lost in the mail? Turns out, there’s a way to address that.
Washington allows you to track your ballot online through its voter portal, which you can access at voter.votewa.gov. You can log in with your first name, last name and date of birth, and it will provide information about your registration and ballot status.
“So through that voter portal where you can log in, you can see not only registration status, but during an active election, you’ll also be provided the status of your ballot. So you’ll be able to see when it was sent, when it was received by the auditor’s office, when it was counted by the auditor’s office or accepted for counting,” Stuart Holmes, Washington’s Director of Elections, told McClatchy in a September interview.
There’s another way to get updates on the status of your ballot – you can sign up by text.
“The other way is voters can actually text ‘vote’ to VoteWA, which is just 868392 on your number pad, and actually subscribe to get ballot status update texts to them,” Holmes said.
There are those rare cases that ballots get damaged. In the early morning of Monday, Oct. 28, a fire damaged hundreds of ballots in Vancouver, Washington. According to the Clark County Auditor, anyone who deposited their ballot in the damaged drop box after 11:00 a.m. on Oct. 26 should check their online voter portal to make sure their ballot is processed. If it isn’t, voters can get a new ballot at the county’s elections office, located at 1408 Franklin St. in downtown Vancouver, or contact the office by email or phone.
If you live in a different county and suspect your ballot has been damaged or just want to check on its status, you can contact your local election’s office to get a replacement ballot.
When your ballot arrives, its status will be changed from “sent” to “received.” Once it’s been counted, its status will say “accepted.” If there’s an issue processing it, it will tell you that the ballot has been challenged, along with the reason it wasn’t accepted.
If your ballot is challenged, there’s a good chance you can still have it counted, but it might require you to take a few extra steps.
“Now there are scenarios in which maybe the voter fails to sign their return envelope, or the signature doesn’t match… where there’s an action that’s required by the voter in order for the ballot to be counted,” Holmes said. “So they would be texted that information as well. If they’re not subscribed to text messages, they’ll get that notification by mail, email and the phone number on file – the county auditor will call them up and let them know to expect that notice in the mail.”
Common fixable issues include a ballot that’s unsigned, signed by someone other than the voter, or has a signature that doesn’t match the voter’s signature on file. Your ballot could also require further review if your registration has failed the state’s identification review.
In these cases, county election officials will provide instructions for how to verify your identity so that your vote can be counted.
If you mailed in your ballot, but the voter portal doesn’t indicate that it’s arrived, be patient. The Washington Secretary of State’s Office estimates that it can take three to five business days for your ballot to be posted. If you still don’t see your ballot’s status after that period, you can find the contact information for your county’s election office on the Secretary of State’s website.
While Washington largely conducts its elections by mail, there are several voting centers across the state where you can pick up a ballot in person.
This story was originally published October 21, 2024, 1:45 PM.
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