PORT ANGELES — Some voters in Clallam County have yet to receive their ballots for the general election, which is less than one week away.
“We appear to have an area that is not receiving ballots,” County Auditor Patty Rosand said on Tuesday.
“In the Freshwater Bay area to the Elwha River, on the north side of Highway 112, there have been about 50 voters who have contacted us because they have not received ballots.”
If a voter has not yet received a ballot, a new one should be requested, she said.
“We are issuing replacement ballots to voters who call or come into our office. We will issue replacement ballots up until 8 p.m. on election day.
Rosand said the ballot printer assured her that all of the ballots in the all-mail election were delivered on Oct. 15 to the Tacoma Postal Service Center, from which Clallam County ballots were sent.
“The big question is, ‘Where are the ballots?'” Rosand said.
“I will be perfectly frank. I don’t know.
“At this point, I have investigated as much as I can. I just want to make sure that every voter has a ballot by the election.
“I am not suspecting any type of intentional fraud, and signatures are checked on every ballot.”
By Tuesday, Rosand’s office had processed 17,618 ballots, or 38.56 percent of the 45,666 ballots mailed.
In Jefferson County, 10,521 ballots, or 47.52 percent of the 22,140 ballots mailed, had been returned by Tuesday.
Ballots must be postmarked by next Tuesday or hand-delivered by 8 p.m. that day.
Voters can take completed ballots to the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., or leave them in drop boxes outside the courthouse, at Sequim Vehicle/Vessel Licensing, 101 E. Washington St., or District Court in Forks, 500 E. Division St.
Voters who have not received ballots or who need other information can phone the office at 360-417-2222.
