By Dave Reynolds Peninsula Daily News
PORT TOWNSEND — Voters had returned by Thursday 2,541 primary election ballots, or 16.7 percent, of the 15,062 ballots mailed to Jefferson County last week.
Clallam’s voter turnout as of Thursday was 4,364 ballots returned, or 10.6 percent of the 41,208 ballots issued.
Jefferson County elections officials began processing returned ballots Monday — verifying voter signatures, scanning ballots and storing them in a secure ballot box. They will remain there until vote counting begins at 8 p.m. on Election Day, Aug. 6.
A total of 1,658 of Jefferson County’s ballots have been received from Port Townsend. Out of Port Townsend’s 7,238 registered voters, 22.91 percent have returned their ballots.
Voters are deciding on Proposition 1, a $3 million library improvement bond, and two positions on the Port Townsend City Council, Positions 1 and 5.
In the top-two primary in Washington state, a primary election contest is generated when more than two candidates file for a position. The two candidates who receive the most votes face off in the general election Nov. 5.
A total of 841 ballots have been received in the primary election for the Port of Port Townsend Commission District 2 seat.
That represents 11.22 percent of the 7,493 ballots sent to voters in the district, which includes the communities of Cape George, Chimacum, Irondale, Kala Point and Nordland.
Officials have received 42 ballots, or 12.69 percent, of the 331 ballots issued to voters in Gardiner for the Position 3 seat for the Fire Protection District No. 3 commission.
Registered voters in Jefferson County who have not received a ballot and anyone needing a replacement ballot can phone the elections division at 360-385-9117.
The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
All ballots must be postmarked by Aug. 6 or be placed in an official drop box by 8 p.m. that day to be counted.
Official drop boxes are located in the rear parking lot of the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend; and in the parking lot of the Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave., Port Hadlock.
A 16-page Primary Election Voter Guide for Jefferson and Clallam counties was included in the Peninsula Daily News on July 19.
Free copies of the guide are available at local libraries, county courthouses, city halls and the PDN’s Port Angeles office, 305 W. First St.
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David Reynolds can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5252, or at dreynolds@peninsuladailynews.com.