Ballots for the Nov. 5 general election went into the mail to 22,397 registered voters in Jefferson County on Wednesday.
Voters in the all-mail election will decide 12 contested races in Jefferson County as well as fire levy measures in Brinnon and Port Ludlow and measures to create parks districts in Port Ludlow and Kala Point.
Voters also will address a measure deciding whether to proceed in the development of a county charter.
That measure, like those for the parks districts, has two parts: Voters will approve or reject the process and then elect those who would serve as freeholders in the charter election or on governing boards in the parks elections.
If voters don’t approve the charter process or the parks districts, then the elections of freeholders or parks board members will become moot.
Three candidates, Sunday Pace and Larry John Hovde for District 3 freeholder and Keith Meyer for Quilcene School Board, have withdrawn their candidacies but still appear on the ballot.
Voters will also decide two state initiatives — I-522, which requires labelling of genetically-modified food, and I-517, which concerns initiative and referendum measures — and participate in five state advisory votes.
Ballots are due by 8 p.m. Nov. 5.
If mailed, they must be postmarked by Nov. 5 to be counted.
Ballots also can be hand-delivered to the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office at the courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., in Port Townsend, where office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or placed in drop boxes.
Ballot drop boxes, which are available 24 hours a day, are located behind the courthouse or at the Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave, in Port Hadlock.
Any voter who does not receive a ballot by Oct. 21 should contact the auditor’s office to get a replacement.
Questions regarding voter registration, eligibility or ballots can be directed to Betty Johnson 360-417-9119 or by email at bettyj@co.jefferson.wa.us.
The Peninsula Daily News General Election Voter Guide will appear in Friday papers and be available after that at the courthouse and other public places.
A state voter guide will be mailed by the state separately from the ballots.
Information on the election also is available on the Jefferson County Auditor’s website at http://tinyurl.com/pdn-Jeffco-Election.
