It’s time to add the Washington state voter’s pamphlet to your summer reading plans.

There are a couple hotly contested national races affecting Bellevue this summer to vote on in the Aug. 18 primary. If you’re not yet registered, you still can do so in person at the King County Elections Office in Tukwilla before Aug. 9.

The hottest U.S. Congressional race is in the wide-spanning 8th District, which includes Bellevue and features nine candidates, including incumbent Dave Reichert (a Republican) and Suzan DelBene (the leading Democrat). There also are seven others: Tom Cramer, Boleslaw (John) Orlinski, Keith Arnold, Ernest Huber, Tim Dillon, Caleb Love Mardini and Robin Adair.

Even bigger is the race to winnow the race for U.S. Senate from 15 candidates to two. Frontrunners there are Democratic incumbent Parry Murray and Republican challenger Dino Rossi.

Also in the hunt are Norma D. Gruber, Mohammad H. Said, Goodspaceguy, Mike The Mover, Paul Akers, Mike Latimer, James (Skip) Mercer, Clint Didier, Schalk Leonard, Bob Burr, William Edward Chovil, Charles Allen and Will Baker.

Most of the local legislative races have only two candidates, so both will advance to the General election. The exception is the race for State Representative, Position 2 in the 41st Legislative District, which includes the southern portion of Bellevue. There, incumbent Judy Clibborn faces a challenge from Stephen Strader and Orion S. Webster.

In that district’s race for Senate, two candidates, Steve Litzow and incumbent Randy Gordon are squaring off, but both will advance to the General election. The same is true of that district’s race for State Representative, Position 1 where incumbent Marcie Maxwell is being challenged by Peter Dunbar.

In the 48th Legislative District, which includes the norther portion of Bellevue, all three legislative races have only two candidates each, so all will move on to the General election.

For Senate, Gregg Bennett is taking on incumbent Rodney Tom. For the Position 1 House seat, Diane Tebelius hopes to unseat Ross Hunter while in the Position 2 House seat, Philip L. Wilson is challenging incumbent Deb Eddy.

One of the races for state Supreme Court will feature a primary fight – again because three candidates are seeking the two slots in the General election. Incumbent Richard Sanders is being challenged by Bryan Chushcoff and Charlie Wiggins.

In another judicial race, this one for Position 7 on the District Court Northeast Donna Tucker, Larry Mitchell and Ketu Shah are battling for the two positions on the General election ballot.