Ballot counts are creeping up in Jefferson and Clallam counties as Tuesday’s Election Day nears.
As of Wednesday morning, the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office reported having received 8,671 ballots out of the 22,854 issued to registered voters in the general election for a voter turnout of 37.94 percent.
In Clallam County, 13,595 ballots had been returned out of 46,887 issued for a voter turnout of 29 percent.
Both North Olympic Peninsula county auditors expect to see a surge in returns in the all-mail election next week.
Jefferson County’s Donna Eldridge is guessing that the county will have a final voter turnout of 77 percent.
Patty Rosand, Clallam County auditor, is hoping turnout will hit 55 percent.
Statewide, returns at the end of Wednesday were at 19.9 percent, with 780,318 ballots returned out of the 3.9 million issued.
Ballots must be postmarked for the all-mail primary by Tuesday or hand-delivered by 8 p.m. that day.
Where to take ballots
In Clallam County, they can be taken to:
â– Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles. Drop boxes are outside the courthouse and in the Auditor’s Office.
â– Sequim Village Shopping Center, 609 W. Washington St., near the city’s utility payment drop box in the J.C. Penney parking lot.
â– Forks District Court, 502 E. Division St.
In Jefferson County, ballots can be taken to:
â– Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend. Drop boxes are available behind the courthouse and inside the Auditor’s Office.
â– Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave., Port Hadlock.
Anyone who has not received a ballot should phone or stop by the county Auditor’s Office.
Voters can get replacement ballots at www.myvote.wa.gov.
The Clallam County office can be reached at 360-417-2221.
The Jefferson County office can be reached at 360-385-9116.
