Some Clallam and Jefferson County voters are using their primary ballots as blackboards to voice their displeasure with the new voting system.
In both counties, many voters have returned their mail-in ballots without voting in protest of the new Montana-style primary.
Others are expressing themselves in colorful little notes to county election officials on slips of paper, on the ballots themselves or on the ballots’ envelopes.
“This is bulls—” or “This sucks!” are some of the more succinct messages.
Others offer full explanations such as: “I am choosing not to vote. This system should not be dictating to me what party I should exclusively vote for.”
“Forward to Gary Locke,” another says, an apparent reference to the Washington governor’s role in bringing on the new system.
Anger, frustration, confusion and protests are the result of the new primary election process.
Previously, all names of candidates had appeared on one ballot, and residents could vote across party lines.
Now there are three ballots for GOP, Democratic and Libertarian candidates, and a fourth ballot for just non-partisan races.
