Are you ready to vote?
Mail-in ballots go out Wednesday to registered voters for the Nov. 4 general election.
Confused about the issues?
And the candidates?
The Peninsula Daily News wants to help you cast a smart vote by supplying a free Voter Guide.
The Jefferson County Voter Guide will be included with the PDN on Sunday.
It will have information about all the contested general election races and local and statewide ballot measures.
It will profile all the candidates and have their 75-word answers to detailed questions that were addressed to them by the newspaper.
The Voter Guide will also be available free at the county courthouse in Port Townsend, libraries, Port Townsend city hall and other public locations around the county — and at PDN’s Port Townsend office at 1939 E. Sims Way.
Mail and at polls
Elections in Jefferson County are conducted by mail ballots — and at in-person neighborhood polling places on Nov. 4.
Of the 18,222 registered voters in Jefferson County, nearly 8,000 will get mail-in ballots.
Jefferson Elections Supervisor Karen Cartmel said the number of people choosing to vote by mail is rising every year.
Poll voting is available for people who haven’t applied for absentee ballots.
Voters can apply for an absentee ballot until the day before the election.
In addition to being mailed, ballots can also be dropped at the county courthouse .
Ballots must be deposited in the courthouse drop box before 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Mailed ballots must be postmarked by not later than Nov. 4 — or they will not be counted.
Candidate debates
Port of Port Townsend commissioner candidates Robert Sokol and Richard Wojt debated the issue at the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting on Monday.
(See story, Page AXXXXX today.)
Other upcoming candidate forums that are open to the public:
* Wednesday, Oct. 15, 12 noon to 1 p.m.: Jefferson County commissioner candidates Mark Rose and Pat Rodgers at the Kiwanis Club meeting at the Elks Club, 555 Otto St., Port Townsend.
Rodgers, 63, a Republican and retired business executive, and Rose, 50, a Democrat and president of a Web/public relations firm, are competing for the unexpired District 3 term of Wendi Wrinkle.
Citing health reasons, Wrinkle, a Shine resident and a Democrat, resigned as county commissioner in mid-June, six months after taking office.
* Thursday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.: Rodgers and Rose and Sokol and Wojt at the Grange Hall (State Route 19, across from the Tri-Area Community Center) in Chimacum.
* Monday, Oct. 20, noon to 1 p.m.: Port Townsend City Council Pos. 4 candidates Terri McQuillen and Catharine Robinson at Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce, Point Hudson Marina Room.
* Wednesday, Oct. 22, noon to 1 p.m.: Sokol and Wojt at the Port Townsend Kiwanis Club at the Elks Club.
* Monday, Oct. 27, noon to 1 p.m.: Port Townsend City Council candidates running unopposed — Frank Benskin, Geoff Masci and Laurie Medlicott– at Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce, Point Hudson Marina Room.