Primary Election ballots are being mailed Wednesday, July 18th to Whatcom County registered voters.  The Local Voters’ Pamphlet is also in the mail and should arrive within a few days of receiving your ballot, Auditor Debbie Adelstein said.

Auditor Adelstein encourages voters to vote and return their ballot.  Primary elections are important – this is the election where the candidates that move on to the general are determined.  Every vote matters – be sure your voice is heard.

New for the 2018 Primary and General Elections is pre-paid postage!  The State is paying the cost of postage in an effort to increase voter participation.   If you decide to return your ballot by mail, remember that your ballot envelope still needs a postmark no later than Election Day, August 7, 2018 to be counted.  The USPS now recommends mailing your ballot one week before Election Day.  

Ballots can also be returned in an official ballot drop box up until 8:00 pm on Election Day, August 7th.  Ballots deposited in a drop box do not need postage.  All 18 locations are printed on the insert that will be enclosed with the ballot and are also printed in the Local Voters’ Pamphlet.

Also new for this election is the ballot design which has a slightly different look from prior ballots.  To mark your ballot, fill in the oval rather than connect the arrow.  

We hope the changes for this election will make it even easier for voters to mark and return their ballot, Adelstein said.

If a voter doesn’t receive their ballot by July 27th, they should call the Election Division of the Auditor’s Office at (360) 778-5102.