Peninsula Daily News
PORT TOWNSEND — Eighteen percent of Jefferson County voters had returned a ballot for the Nov. 8 general election as of Wednesday, voter registration coordinator Betty Johnson reported.
Of the 21,660 deliverable ballots mailed, 3,928 had been returned.
In the city of Port Townsend, 1,142 of 6,816 ballots — or 16.8 percent — had been returned. Port Townsend voters are deciding on a city ballot measure as well as City Council races.
All the races in Jefferson County are local, with no countywide offices to be decided.
Jefferson County voter turnout was 8.1 percent after the first weekend of voting.
Johnson said 70 ballots were undeliverable.
Anyone who has not received a ballot in Jefferson County should phone the Auditor’s Office at 360-385-9119 or email karenc@co.jefferson.wa.us.
Clallam County
Meanwhile, the Clallam County Auditor’s Office received 1,035 more ballots Wednesday for a new total of 5,230.
As of Wednesday, 11.4 percent of the 45,713 ballots mailed had been returned. That’s up from the 2.7 percent that was returned after the first weekend of voting.
County Auditor Patty Rosand said 1,724 ballots were unable to be delivered because of a lack of a valid address.
Any voter who did not receive a Clallam County ballot should phone the Auditor’s Office at 360-417-2221 or visit the Auditor’s Office at the County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles, to pick up a replacement.
Voters also have the option of logging on to www.clallam.net/elections, clicking on “My Vote” and printing a replacement ballot.
Clallam County has 16 contested races this year, including a countywide contest for Clallam County commissioner.
Democrat Linda Barnfather, 48, an executive legislative assistant to Democratic 24th District state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, and Republican Jim McEntire, 61, a Port of Port Angeles commissioner, are the candidates.
Copies of the 2011 North Olympic Peninsula Voter Guide, with separate editions published for Jefferson and Clallam counties, debuted in the Peninsula Daily News last Friday.
Free copies of the voter guide are available at libraries, county courthouses, city halls, PDN offices in downtown Port Angeles and online at www.peninsuladailynews.com (click on the respective county’s voter guide button at the bottom of the home page).