In the final week before election day, Washington has been making a lot of news – and not because of the candidates is on the ballot.

Instead, questions about election security and illegal voting are swirling around.

We’ll take a closer look at how our mail in voting system works with UW Professor Scott Allard.

Learn more about his research here.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

In the final week before election day, Washington has been making a lot of news &ndash; and not because of the candidates is on the ballot.
Instead, questions about election security and illegal voting are swirling around.
We&rsquo;ll take a closer look at how our mail in voting system works with UW Professor Scott Allard.
Learn more about his research <a href="https://evans.uw.edu/research/elections-database-vote-by-mail-research/">here</a>.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at <a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now

In the final week before election day, Washington has been making a lot of news – and not because of the candidates is on the ballot.  Instead, questions about election security and illegal voting are swirling around.  We’ll take a closer look at how our mail in voting system works with UW Professor Scott Allard.

Understanding WA's vote-by-mail system amid federal scrutiny

As a percussionist with the Seattle Symphony, Eric Schweikert says you have to be willing to be silly.

“All the ridiculous stuff ends up in the percussion section. If you want bird whistles or pop guns, sound effects, trash cans falling on the ground, we're the guys that have to do it.”

But as the Seattle Symphony’s principal timpanist, Schweikert’s got chops. He’ll get to show off his musicality when the Seattle Symphony world premieres a timpani concerto on November 19, 2026, by composer Joseph Pereira. It’s called Virtù.

Schweikert tells KUOW’s Gabriel Spitzer how he explains his job to strangers – “The copper kettle drums, that's what I do.” And why some of his biggest influences have been high school drummers and Animal from The Muppets. 

He also shares some of his all-time favorite timpani parts, including the theme from the 1960s television show, George In The Jungle. And of course, the theme from “2001: A Space Odyssey”, which is a tone poem originally composed by Richard Strauss. 

As a percussionist with the Seattle Symphony, Eric Schweikert says you have to be willing to be silly.
&ldquo;All the ridiculous stuff ends up in the percussion section. If you want bird whistles or pop guns, sound effects, trash cans falling on the ground, we're the guys that have to do it.&rdquo;
But as the Seattle Symphony&rsquo;s principal timpanist, Schweikert&rsquo;s got chops. He&rsquo;ll get to show off his musicality when the Seattle Symphony world premieres a timpani concerto on November 19, 2026, by composer Joseph Pereira. It&rsquo;s called Virt&ugrave;.
Schweikert tells KUOW&rsquo;s Gabriel Spitzer how he explains his job to strangers &ndash; &ldquo;The copper kettle drums, that's what I do.&rdquo; And why some of his biggest influences have been high school drummers and Animal from The Muppets.&nbsp;
He also shares some of his all-time favorite timpani parts, including the theme from the 1960s television show, George In The Jungle. And of course, the theme from &ldquo;2001: A Space Odyssey&rdquo;, which is a tone poem originally composed by Richard Strauss.&nbsp;

Seattle Symphony principal timpanist Eric Shweikert steps out front of his colleagues in a world premiere of a timpani concerto this month.  

Seattle Symphony timpani player gets his day in the sun

Today, we’re helping you prep for next week’s election with KUOW’s “Soundside.”

Don’t forget, your ballot is due in a ballot box on Tuesday night.

This year, Washington voters will decide if they want to ban transgender girls from participating in girls' sports. 

Initiative 638 has become one of the state's most contentious items of the ballot and it reflects a broader cultural divide on this issue across the country.

Parents, lawmakers and more shared their thoughts with Soundside, on what this initiative would mean for girls' sports.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

Today, we&rsquo;re helping you prep for <a href="https://www.kuow.org/podcast/soundside">next week&rsquo;s election with KUOW&rsquo;s &ldquo;Soundside.&rdquo;</a>
Don&rsquo;t forget, your ballot is due in a ballot box on Tuesday night.
This year, Washington voters will decide if they want to ban transgender girls from participating in girls' sports.&nbsp;
Initiative 638 has become one of the state's most contentious items of the ballot and it reflects a broader cultural divide on this issue across the country.
Parents, lawmakers and more shared their thoughts with Soundside, on what this initiative would mean for girls' sports.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at <a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Today, we’re helping you prep for next week’s election with KUOW’s “Soundside.”  Don’t forget, your ballot is due in a ballot box on Tuesday night.  This year, Washington voters will decide if they want to ban transgender girls from participating in girls' sports.   Initiative 638 has become one of the state's most contentious items of the ballot and it reflects a broader cultural divide on this issue across the country.  Parents, lawmakers and more shared their thoughts with Soundside, on what this initiative would mean for girls' sports.

Trans girls in sports, on the ballot. The arguments for and against I-638

Gov. Ferguson urges voters to use drop boxes, 90-unit tiny home community opens in South Park, and clocks in WA and B.C. will soon be out of sync.

It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Vaughan Jones.

Read more from KNKX about the race for WA's 3rd Congressional District, here.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

Gov. Ferguson urges voters to use drop boxes, 90-unit tiny home community opens in South Park, and clocks in WA and B.C. will soon be out of sync.
It&rsquo;s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Vaughan Jones.
Read more from KNKX about the race for WA's 3rd Congressional District, <a href="https://www.knkx.org/politics/2026-10-28/logging-urban-rural-divide-race-washington-third-congressional-district-marie-gluesenkamp-perez-john-braun">here</a>.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Gov. Ferguson urges voters to use drop boxes, 90-unit tiny home community opens in South Park, and clocks in WA and B.C. will soon be out of sync.

Understanding WA's vote-by-mail system amid federal scrutiny

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