ELECTION 2016: RESULTS • STORIES • DATA DASHBOARD
EVERETT — Tuesday is Election Day and your final opportunity to vote.
Ballots must be put in a designated drop box by 8 p.m. or, if mailed, be postmarked no later than Tuesday to be counted.
In Snohomish County, it will take 68 cents of postage — basically two stamps — to mail them in without complications that could require the county to pick up the postage tab. In Island County, a first-class stamp will be enough.
If you decide to mail your ballot Tuesday, check the pickup times on the box to be sure it will get retrieved. Otherwise, head to the Post Office.
In Snohomish County, if you have lost your ballot or have any issues regarding your ballot, call the elections office at 425-388-3444.
Voters in Snohomish County are not only helping choose the next president but also a governor, a U.S. senator, three state Supreme Court justices, a slew of state legislators and one member of the Snohomish County Council. Many also will weigh in on a $54 billion plan for increasing regional mass transit.
And voters will decide the fate of statewide initiatives to increase the minimum wage, provide public funding for political campaigns and remove firearms from those considered at risk of injuring themselves or others. There is also a measure to create a new tax on carbon emissions while lowering the sales tax and business and occupation tax.
Candidates for state and federal offices spent Monday working to get out the vote. Both political parties revved up their volunteers and staffers to make a final push to contact those who had not yet returned their ballots.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, who is seeking a fifth term, visited the party’s field office in Everett on Monday afternoon. She was joined by the state’s other Democratic U.S. senator, Maria Cantwell, and U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, who is seeking re-election in the 1st Congressional District.
Republican Chris Vance, who is challenging Murray, spent Monday afternoon meeting voters outside Century Link Field in Seattle before the Seahawks took the field against the Buffalo Bills. Vance was joined by other Republican candidates, including Bill Bryant, who is running for governor.
As of Monday morning, nearly 1.9 million ballots had been returned or roughly 45 percent of the state’s registered voters. Jefferson County led the way with 57.8 percent of its ballots returned while Island County had received 52.7 percent of its ballots.
In Snohomish County, roughly 206,000 ballots, or nearly 45 percent, had been returned as of Monday morning. Drop boxes filled quickly and by lunchtime Monday another 24,000 ballots had been collected to push the percentage to nearly 50 percent, according to Snohomish County Auditor Carolyn Weikel.
That rate still trails what occurred in the county the past two presidential elections. In 2012, 60 percent of the ballots had been turned in by the day before the election. In 2008, it was 61 percent, according to data compiled by the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office.
Tuesday will mark the end of a combative campaign for president between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. It also will conclude an election cycle that’s sowed deep divisions within and between the ranks of the Democratic and Republican parties in the community and around the country.
For one Edmonds church, Tuesday night offers a chance to begin healing and reconciliation.
St. Hilda St. Patrick Episcopal Church plans a special election evening prayer vigil from 7-8 p.m. The church is located at 15224 52nd Ave. W in Edmonds.
It is open to anyone regardless of party affiliation, denomination or religious faith.
“We recognize that this election has been a source of deep concern for many people in our region and around the world,” St. Hilda St. Patrick Vicar Cynthia Espeseth said in a statement. “We felt it was important to come together at this time to give thanks for the abundance of our common life, pray for the safety and security of our country, and offer prayers for reconciliation and healing as our nation elects a new President, members of the Senate and Congress, and local representatives.”
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dospueblos.
Here are the locations of boxes where Snohomish County ballots can be dropped off postage-free:
Arlington (near library), 135 N. Washington Ave.
Bothell (QFC parking lot), 22833 Bothell-Everett Hwy.
Edmonds (near library), 650 Main St.
Everett (Courthouse Campus), Rockefeller Avenue and Wall Street.
Everett (at McCollum Park), 600 128th St. SE.
Lake Stevens (near the city boat launch), 1800 Main St.
Lynnwood (in front of City Hall), 19100 44th Ave.
Marysville (behind City Hall), 1049 State Ave.
Monroe (near library), 1070 Village Way.
Mukilteo (near library), 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd.
Snohomish (near library), 311 Maple Ave.
Stanwood (near library), 9701 271st St. NW
On Election Day, mobile drop boxes will be available from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at these locations:
Everett Mall parking lot, 1402 SE Everett Mall Way
Mountlake Terrace Library parking lot, 23300 58th Ave. W
Voters also can turn in completed ballots at the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office until 8 p.m. Tuesday. It is on the first floor of the Snohomish County Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.
More info: www.snoco.org/elections or call 425-388-3444.
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