The clock is ticking as the election draws near.

Recently, Seattle and Tacoma graduate chapters of the historic Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha Incorporated held a nonpartisan public policy forum with some Washington elected officials and a specialist from the Secretary of State's office.

An opportunity to share election reminders ahead of the midterms, and for community members and state leaders to discuss the current policies that are top of mind.

Here's a look at what voters and leaders had to say.

-On a crisp Saturday morning, politicians and community members gather for a discussion on the pain points facing Washington State at Highline College in Des Moines.

AKA sorority member of the Delta Epsilon Omega chapter, Dr.

Rotonya Carr says this event is important for civic engagement.

-People need to know that the people who we elect and who are working for us on behalf of of Washington State are our leaders, they are accessible to us.

Having events like this that bring them here to our community, where we can engage in direct dialog is so critically important.

-On the panel, Attorney General Nick Brown, state representatives Jamila Taylor and Edwin Obras, and voter education specialists from the Secretary of State's office, Sarah Spikes.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson wasn't there, but sent a message about his efforts to protect Washingtonians health care.

After the federal government last year passed, H.R.

1, better known as the Big Beautiful Bill, into law.

Ferguson says it cut more than $3 billion from the state's Medicaid funding for the upcoming biennium.

-So my response to all this, what I really consider to be a morally bankrupt policy... I signed an executive order that seeks to do everything we can to keep as many Washingtonians as possible on their health insurance.

-Kara Sims says health care is a major concern as her parents age.

-Having a conversation with my mom yesterday and understanding the trade offs that she's evaluating with regards to Medicaid, it's complicated.

And I think about my parents, who are seniors, and for them to navigate this.

-Another topic: The state's vote by mail system that's been under assault in court by the Trump administration.

Brown says his office has sued the president over 80 times in his 22 months as attorney general.

-It saddens me a little bit that so much of our work is defending Americans from their president.

But over the course of the past year, we have been defending our state, our laws, a constitution against an illegal, unconstitutional, un-American power grab by this president, starting with an attempt to change the date by which we count ballots.

-State reps.

Taylor and Obras stressed the importance of finding common ground with their constituents.

-There's not a single district in the Washington state that his majority Black.

And so how how do you navigate building coalitions with folks who may not come from the same ethnic community, but they share your values?

-Sure, I think laying your values on the table is first and foremost, because what that does, is it naturally brings people together.

-Howard Brantley says affordability is a major issue for his family.

-I have a 29 year old that lives here, lives in the Seattle area at the same time, too, and that continues to come up, especially here in Washington with the rising cost of of housing, rising cost again of groceries.

-You can either call the county elections officer, go into any place that calls itself a voting center.

-I've lived in South Carolina, I've lived in Georgia, and I've lived in Florida.

And one thing that Sarah Spikes is talking about is having that voter pamphlet.

Use that voter pamphlet, be informed of what's on the ballot before you take that right.

And then please, please vote.

-I'm Paris Jackson, thanks for watching.

To see this week's stories leading up to the November 3rd election, visit CascadePBS.org/TheNewsfeed.