‘Brisk’ return of general election ballots in Island County

COUPEVILLE — Many Island County voters couldn’t wait to get their ballots and get them back in.

An estimated 7,000 voted ballots had been returned by mail or in drop boxes as of early Monday. That’s a tick under 13 percent of the county’s roughly 55,000 registered voters.

“The response is brisk. Voters are engaged and actively participating,” Island County Auditor Sheilah Crider said.

She’s predicting 90 to 92 percent of voters will participate in the Nov. 8 election. If turnout hits that mark, it would eclipse the 89.4 percent recorded in 2008 when President Barack Obama was first elected.

“With Island County voters, when there is change in the White House, there is always a higher turnout,” she said.

Island County sent out ballots Oct. 14 and voters started receiving them a week ago. The pattern in the last few years has been for voters to wait until the last minute to return them. Not this time.

“Getting this number of ballots this early is a bit surprising but it is gratifying,” she said. “It shows (voters) are really anticipating this is a big election and they want to be sure their voice is one of those being counted.”

Meanwhile, there’s a smaller rate of return so far in Snohomish County where roughly 450,000 registered voters started receiving ballots in the mail Saturday and Monday.

Election officials reported 801 ballots returned as of midday Monday with about a third coming through the mail and two-thirds from drop boxes.

It wasn’t immediately known if any of those returned by mail in Snohomish County contained insufficient postage.

That’s an issue because an usually large number of items has made the ballot in Snohomish County wider and heavier than usual. It will require 68-cent postage to return them by mail. Only a single first-class stamp is required for ballots in most other counties, including Island County.

Voters can avoid paying postage by putting completed ballots in one of 12 drop boxes scattered throughout Snohomish County.

Garth Fell, Snohomish County elections manager, said Monday they are monitoring the situation and in contact with postal officials to ensure all ballots are delivered to them for processing.

If a ballot envelope arrives without enough postage, county taxpayers would cover the difference, county Auditor Carolyn Weikel has said. The money would come out of an account her office uses for various mailing-related charges.

Another oddity for Snohomish County ballots is that the race for president isn’t on the front side but is the first item on the back.

State law requires statewide and countywide ballot measures appear ahead of contests for any elected office. This year there are 16 filling the entire front side — seven statewide initiatives, seven amendments to the Snohomish County Charter, two advisory measures and a proposed revision to the state Constitution.

Election officials added this reminder in red ink on the bottom of the ballot front: “President and additional races on other side of ballot”.

Registered voters who have not received a ballot, or have questions about the election can call the auditor’s office in Island County at 360-679-7366, ext. 4 or Snohomish County at 425-388-3444.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com Twitter: @dospueblos.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.