Local

Voters to decide local offices, issues today

By the Tri-City Herald

November 08, 2011 12:00 AM

Election Day is here.

So if you have not yet made your vote count, dig out that unopened ballot, fill it in and drop the sealed envelope in a mailbox or one of several drop box sites in Franklin and Benton counties.

Eligible voters should have received a ballot in the mail at least 20 days ago.

Franklin and Benton are only vote-by-mail counties.

Voters will decide on five state measures, along with a number of local offices. Franklin County and Connell residents also will decide two measures.

On Monday, Dave Ammons, a spokesman for the Secretary of State's Office, said they had learned that about 21,000 voters or potential voters who used the Department of Licensing website may not have received ballots at their updated address or even been registered online.

"Anyone who has not received a ballot and believes himself or herself to be properly registered should go to the county elections office or voting center and will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot before close of business on Tuesday," Ammons said in a news release.

The voter registration status of each provisional ballot will be researched after the election, and the eligible races and ballot measures will be counted.

Of the 3.66 million registered voters in Washington, Secretary of State Sam Reed is anticipating a 47 percent turnout.

People who want to check their voter registration status can visit myvote.wa.gov.

Ballots must be postmarked by today or be returned by the close of business to a voting center or official dropoff box.

The Franklin County Auditor's Office inside the courthouse is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, and ballots can be dropped off at the office until closing time.

The county also has drive-up drop sites at the: Election Center, 116 N. Third Ave., Pasco; TRAC, 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco; Franklin County Courthouse parking lot, 1016 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco; and Franklin PUD Connell Shop, 619 W. Clark St., Connell.

In Benton County, there are drop boxes at the: Prosser Auditor's Office, 620 Market St.; Benton City hall, 708 Ninth St.; Kennewick Auditor's Office, 5600 W. Canal Drive; Benton County Justice Center, 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Kennewick; and Richland Auditor's Office, 101 Wellsian Way Suite E.

All drop boxes close at 8 p.m.

For up-to-date election results after voting closes tonight, visit tricityherald.com.

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