A portion of a sample of the November ballot. (Snohomish County Elections)

A portion of a sample of the November ballot. (Snohomish County Elections)

Longest ballot in 10 years will cost you 68 cents to mail

EVERETT — The race for president is the year’s biggest political contest but Snohomish County voters won’t find it on the front of their ballots.

Blame it on a larger-than-usual batch of statewide and countywide measures that by law must appear ahead of contests for any elected office in the Nov. 8 general election.

There will be 16 filling up 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.

The presidential contest will wind up on the reverse side, where it will be the first item atop the left column, according to a draft of the sample ballot provided by the county elections office.

“We were afraid that would happen,” said Snohomish County Auditor Carolyn Weikel. “This is the largest and longest ballot we’ve had in at least 10 years.”

There are so many items, three columns are required to get everything onto the 18-inch, double-sided sheet of paper. By comparison, the two-sided primary ballot had two columns and ran 19 inches long.

Out of concern people might look at the front side and not flip the ballot over, Weikel said they added some language to gently remind folks.

A sentence — “Vote both sides of ballot and remove stub” — was added on the top of each side.

And, on the bottom of the front, in red ink, is a reminder that reads “President and additional races on other side of ballot” followed by a red arrow.

Secretary of State Kim Wyman said Tuesday she had not yet heard of any other counties in the same situation as Snohomish County. But there may be more given the number of statewide ballot measures occupying the front side of the ballot.

“This is fairly unprecedented,” she said, noting the last time Washington had six citizen-sponsored initiatives on a statewide ballot was in the early 1990s.

The back side of ballots in Snohomish County will be packed, too. There are races for Congress, governor and eight other state executive offices as well as the state Supreme Court and legislative offices. Plus, depending on where one lives, a local measure or two.

In Everett, for example, there will be three amendments to the city charter. Also, the very last item is Sound Transit’s expansion plan known as ST3 which appears as Proposition 1.

Election pamphlets are scheduled to be mailed Oct. 8 to every household with a registered voter. Ballots should be sent out Oct. 20. They are due by Nov. 8.

Because of the ballot’s larger size, it will take more postage to return them by mail. Snohomish County officials said a mailed ballot will require $0.68 postage rather than the $0.46 — a single first class stamp — in the primary.

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

“We’ll want to work with the county to do some messaging to voters to use those drop boxes,” Wyman said.

In addition, the county plans to deploy two mobile drop box vans.

This will occur Nov. 6-8 in Darrington, Sultan, Granite Falls, Mountlake Terrace, the Quil Ceda Village administration building and the Everett Mall parking lot, Weikel said. Exact times and locations will be in material sent with the ballot and published in the local voters’ pamphlet.

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

Key dates

Oct. 8 — Voter pamphlets mailed.

Oct. 10 —Last day to register online or by mail and update existing registration.

Oct. 20 —Ballots mailed.

Oct. 31 —Last day to register in person.

Nov. 8 —Election Day.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Riley Boyd, 6, left, and sisters Vivienne Boyd, 3, ride a sled together down a hill at Anderson Center Field on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County shouldn’t expect snow and cold to leave any time soon

Residents can expect a reprieve from the snow until possibly this weekend. Colder than normal temperatures are expected to remain into next week.

Modern DNA tech comes through again for Everett police in 1989 murder case

Recent advances in forensic genealogy led to the suspect’s arrest in Clark County, Nevada.

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.