Election workers in Clallam and Jefferson counties have received a combined total of more than 7,000 ballots for the all-mail Nov. 2 general election nearly a week after ballots were mailed to voters — and Jefferson’s return rate is surpassing Clallam’s.
Clallam County Auditor Patty Rosand said as of Tuesday afternoon 4,137 ballots had been returned out of 45,430 mailed, or 9.1 percent.
Jefferson County Auditor Donna Eldridge said 3,036 had been returned out of 21,679 mailed, or 14 percent.
Both are predicting that North Olympic Peninsula voters will participate in greater numbers than the 66 percent statewide turnout predicted by state Secretary of State Sam Reed.
Eldridge is predicting an 80 percent turnout for Jefferson, while Rosand is forecasting 72 percent for Clallam.
“I think it’s picking up a little,” Rosand said, adding that she expects a surge of ballots closer to Nov. 2, when all ballots are due by 8 p.m. at county courthouses or drop boxes or must be postmarked.
“People are going to want to study those state measures,” Rosand said of nine statewide ballot initiatives. “It’s a lot to read.”
Voter interest
In Jefferson County, contested countywide races for county commissioner, prosecuting attorney and District Court judge are driving voter interest, Eldridge said.
“I think they will be getting the vote out; they will be calling voters,” she said.
Clallam County’s ballot includes contested races for county commissioner, prosecuting attorney, community development director and treasurer.
Both counties’ ballots include races for two 24th Legislative District House positions, the 6th Congressional District and the U.S. Senate.
Information on the election is available in the Peninsula Daily News’ separate election guides for Clallam and Jefferson counties, and in the Secretary of State’s Office election guide, all of which are available for free at courthouses, city halls and public libraries.
In addition, the PDN guides are available at PDN offices in Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Sequim (addresses on Page A2), and online at peninsuladailynews.com.
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Senior Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
