PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County voters had returned 3,936, or 26.12 percent, of the 15,070 ballots issued for the Aug. 6 primary election as of Wednesday, the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office said.
Clallam County voters had returned 7,447, or 18.07 percent, of the 41,208 ballots sent out, according to the Clallam County Auditor’s Office.
Port Townsend voters had returned as of Friday 2,530, or 34.92 percent, of the 7,246 ballots issued in the city, according to the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office.
Port Townsend voters are deciding on two Port Townsend City Council seats, Positions 1 and 5, and Proposition 1, a $3 million library improvement bond.
Primary election contests are generated in Washington’s top-two primary when more than two candidates file for a petition.
The two candidates who receive the most votes face off in the general election Nov. 5.
Port race
Voters had returned as of Wednesday 1,336, or 17.83 percent, of the 7,493 ballots issued for the Port of Port Townsend Commission District 2 seat.
This district includes the communities of Cape George, Chimacum, Irondale, Kala Point and Nordland.
Fire district race
The Auditor’s Office had received as of Wednesday 70, or 21.15 percent, of 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 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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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.