It’s still called Election Day, but it’s really the 20-day voting cycle for the all-mail 2012 general election that ends today at 8 p.m.
There are two deadlines to return or mail ballots containing choices for federal, state, regional and local offices.
If mailed with a first-class stamp, ballots must be postmarked by this afternoon to be counted in the general election.
The second deadline is 8 p.m., when ballots must be dropped off at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend, or at a drop box at the Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave, Port Hadlock.
The Jefferson County Auditor’s Office received 1,906 mailed ballots Monday, bringing the total to 15,076 received from 22,738 issued — a 66 percent turnout so far.
County Election Coordinator Karen Cartmel said she expects voter turnout to be close to the 91.3 percent Jefferson County turnout of 2008, when Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican John McCain and the county had 2,518 fewer voters.
Jefferson County picked Obama over McCain, 66 percent to 32 percent, with independent candidate Ralph Nader garnering 1 percent.
Voter-related activity was “really heavy” at the courthouse, Cartmel said.
“The back parking lot is like a traffic jam using our drop box,” she said Monday afternoon, adding that about 30 voters came into the Auditor’s Office for replacement ballots.
Ballots will be tabulated at 8 p.m. today and on Friday.
Election workers must tabulate ballots every three days, or sooner if 500 or more are ready for tabulation, Cartmel said.
Cartmel urged voters to remember to sign their ballot-return envelopes.
Unsigned ballots take longer to process, she said.
Election workers will be available at the courthouse until 8 p.m. to answer questions and assist voters with replacement ballots, Cartmel said.
Counties must certify the election results by Nov. 27.
While they last, copies of the free North Olympic Peninsula Voters Guide, published Oct. 19 by the Peninsula Daily News as a public service, are available at public locations such as the courthouse, City Hall, senior centers and libraries.
It also is available online by clicking the Voters Guide button at the bottom of the homepage at www.peninsuladailynews.com.
At the top of the ticket, Democrat Barack Obama is favored to carry Washington’s 12 electoral votes in his battle with Republican Mitt Romney for the White House.
The race to replace Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire is a tight contest between Democrat Jay Inslee and Republican Rob McKenna.
Voters also will weigh in on statewide executive offices as well as ballot measures on same-sex marriage, marijuana legalization, charter schools and tax limits.
Polls suggest that U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell will comfortably win re-election.
About 3.9 million are registered to vote in Washington, and Secretary of State Sam Reed has predicted voter turnout at 81 percent, a bit lower than the state’s record of 85 percent in 2008.
The historic average is 79 percent.
Reed has predicted that up to 60 percent of the expected vote will be counted by election night, leaving another 40 percent of ballots left to be counted, either en route by mail or left at the drop boxes counties have set up.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.