EVERETT — Get out your pens. It’s time to fill in some ovals.
Ballots go out Thursday for the Aug. 2 primary. Roughly 500,000 registered voters are eligible to participate. Pamphlets containing information on candidates and ballot measures are arriving at homes this week as well.
For the first time, 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the general elections will be able to take part in a primary.
Voters are narrowing the field in contests for 20 seats in the state Legislature — 16 House and four Senate — that represent portions of Snohomish County.
There’s also elections for Secretary of State and Congress, as well as Snohomish County prosecutor and Snohomish Public Utility District commissioner.
In each race, the two candidates with the most votes will advance to the Nov. 8 general election. If there are only two hopefuls, both move on.
“As the last several years have shown, elections are consequential,” Snohomish County Auditor Garth Fell said. “Those we elect to federal, state, and local office will influence the direction of our country, state, and county for years to come.”
Turnout is expected to be around 35%, Fell said.
Battles are under way for both House seats in the 38th Legislative District due to retirements of Democratic Reps. Mike Sells and Emily Wicks. The district encompasses Everett, Tulalip and part of Marysville.
An intraparty fight for a GOP-held House seat in the 39th Legislative District is drawing attention.
Rep. Robert Sutherland, R-Granite Falls, a two-term incumbent, faces a challenge from Republican Sam Low, a Snohomish County Council member who lives in Lake Stevens, a new part of the district due to redistricting. There are also two Democrats in the race — Claus Joens of Marblemount, who Sutherland defeated in 2020, and Karl de Jong of Sedro-Woolley.
Redistricting moved voters in Monroe, Sultan, Gold Bar and Index from the 39th District to the 12th District, uniting with communities along U.S. 2 in Chelan County including Leavenworth, Cashmere, Dryden and Wenatchee.
Three incumbent Democratic members of Congress — Rick Larsen of Everett, Suzan DelBene of Medina and Kim Schrier of Sammamish — are seeking re-election and each faces multiple challengers.
Schrier will be a new name for east Snohomish County voters. She represents the 8th Congressional District which, through redistricting, gained a chunk of rural Snohomish County. She has several Republican challengers, including Reagan Dunn, a King County Council member, and Jesse Jensen, a former Army Ranger who she beat in 2020.
Ballots can be placed in any of the county’s 33 designated drop boxes. Or they can be mailed without a stamp. Ballot-return envelopes must be postmarked no later than Aug. 2. Every election, ballots are not counted because they arrive too late. The U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing them at least a week before Election Day.
There is still time to register as a voter or to update your registration.
You can do it online at vote.wa.gov until July 25. A person can go into the county auditor’s office until 8 p.m. on Election Day to register and vote. Same-day registration is the result of a law enacted in 2018.
In the final days of the election accessible voting sites will be opened at the Alderwood Water and Wastewater District, 3626 156th St. SW in Lynnwood, and the Wyndham Garden Hotel, 16710 Smokey Point Blvd. in Arlington. They will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 30, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 1 and 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 2.
In addition, accessible voting equipment for voters with disabilities will be available at the county auditor’s office, 3000 Rockefeller Ave. in Everett.
You don’t need a traditional address to vote. You can register using a shelter, park, motorhome, marina or other identifiable location you consider your residence. This location will be used to determine which precinct you will vote in. Then, to receive a ballot by mail, a valid mailing address must be provided.
If you have not received a ballot by July 20, or if you have questions, contact the Snohomish County elections office at 425-388-3444.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623;
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