PORT ANGELES — Today is Election Day, and ballots need to be postmarked today or dropped in ballot boxes by 8 p.m. tonight.
At the latest count available, Clallam County registered voters had returned nearly 45 percent of the ballots due today.
The Clallam County Auditor’s Office had received by Friday 23,583 ballots, or 44.90 percent of the 52,519 ballots provided to voters for the general election, according to Betty Pettigrew, elections manager.
Jefferson County election officials processed election ballots Monday under the eyes of official political party election observers. Jay Page, left, Betty Grewell, Mary Foster, Laurie Meyer and Auditor Rose Anne Carroll worked with ballots received over the weekend. (Jeannie McMacken/Peninsula Daily News)
On Monday, Jefferson County voter turnout had reached 63.41 percent — with 15,991 ballots of the 25,220 ballots provided to voters returned, voter registration coordinator Sandi Eldridge said.
Voters in both counties will be voting in races for U.S. senator, U.S. representative and two seats in the state House of Representatives. They will also vote on a number of initiatives, including Initiative 1634 concerning new taxes on food and beverages, Initiative 940 concerning law enforcement, Initiative 1631 concerning a fee on carbon emissions and Initiative 1639 concerning gun regulations.
There is also an advisory vote that asks whether the state Legislature should repeal or maintain SB 6269, signed in March.
Voters in Clallam County will vote in races for Clallam County commissioner, District 3; Clallam County director of community development; prosecuting attorney-coroner; Clallam County sheriff; District Court 1 judge; District Court 2 judge; Public Utility District commissioner, District 1; a levy lift of Clallam Fire District No. 3; a renewal of the tax for Sequim’s Transportation Benefit District and an expansion of the Sequim Library.
Voters in Jefferson County will vote in races for Jefferson County commissioner, District 3; Jefferson County prosecuting attorney-coroner; Jefferson County sheriff; District Court judge; Public Utility District commissioner, District 3; and a re-apportionment for the Port Townsend School Board. Some Jefferson County voters within the district’s bounds will vote on a levy lift of Clallam Fire District No. 3.
Ballots contain return envelopes with pre-paid postage this election.
The Clallam County Auditor’s Office said last week that some voters in Clallam County have not received ballots in the mail and was investigating the delay with the U.S. Postal Service.
Pettigrew urged voters who have not received ballots, or who have lost them, to obtain replacements by picking them up at the Auditor’s Office at Suite 1 in the Clallam County Courthouse at 223 E. Fourth St., between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots also are available online at myvote.wa.gov, she said.
Ballots are due in a drop box or must be postmarked today.
Clallam County drop boxes are at:
• Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles. Drive-up drop boxes are provided on the circular drive and directly across from disabled parking area.
• Clallam County Auditor’s Office in the county courthouse, Suite 1, open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.
• Sequim Village Shopping Center, near the J.C. Penney store, 651 W. Washington St.
• Sunny Farms Country Store in Carlsborg, 261461 U.S. Highway 101.
• Forks City Hall, outside near the entrance, 500 E. Division St.
• Clallam Bay Library, 16990 state Highway 112.
• Washburn General Store, 1450 Bayview Ave., Neah Bay.
• Clallam County Public Utility District’s Clallam Bay/Sekiu office, 15 Sekiu Airport Road.
Jefferson County drop boxes are at:
• Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend. A drive-up drop box is provided in the parking lot to the rear of the courthouse off Franklin Street.
• Jefferson County Auditor’s Office in the county courthouse, open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.
• Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave., Port Hadlock. A drive-up drop box is in the parking lot. Access will be limited by seal coating today.
• Brinnon Community Center, walk-up, outside near the entrance, 306144 U.S. Highway 101.
• Quilcene Community Center, walk-up, outside near the entrance, 294952 U.S. Highway 101.
• Nordland Fire Station, drive-up, in the parking lot, 6633 Flagler Road, Nordland.
The Peninsula Daily News published a voter guide for the general election Oct. 14. The voter guide is available online at www.peninsuladailynews.com.
From the top left menu, go to “Print Editions” and select either Clallam or Jefferson County. Special sections, including the voter guide, are available under the print editions.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.