Ballots mailed to 186K Tri-City voters. Changes to know for Aug. 4 elections
Check your mailboxes. Tri-City election officials this week mailed out 186,000 ballots to registered voters in leadup to the Aug. 4 primary election.
Some of the more than 136,700 ballots mailed out in Benton County began hitting mailboxes on Wednesday. The county’s voters’ pamphlet, ballot envelopes and drop boxes have been redesigned and will look a bit different.
“We are encouraging voters to utilize any of our 12 ballot drop boxes to return their ballots. We have installed a new ballot drop box at Southridge Sports Complex,” said Amanda Hatfield, Benton County’s elections manager.
Ballots must be returned at drop boxes before 8 p.m. on election day.
“Also, if voters are wishing to return their ballots via USPS, we are recommending that they send their ballots back no later than seven days before the election to ensure that ballots are received timely,” she continued.
No postage is necessary for mail returns.
Hatfield said voters should wait until the beginning of next week before contacting their office for a replacement ballot. Voters should utilize their “official” signature when signing their ballot, and reference their driver's license if they registered through the Department of Licensing.
July 27 is the deadline to register or update voter registration online at vote.wa.gov. After that, voters have until 8 p.m. on election day to visit their local county elections center to register in person and to vote.
Franklin County mailed out 49,300 ballots to registered voters on Tuesday. Those ballots should begin to arrive on Friday, said Auditor Matt Beaton.
Franklin County’s elections department recently moved to a new location at 404 W. Clark Street in Pasco. Voters can go there to register to vote, receive a ballot or drop one off.
It’s open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day.
What’s on the ballot?
The two candidates who receive the most votes during the Aug. 4 jungle primary will move on to the Nov. 3 general election.
Atop the ballot will be a crowded race for Washington’s 4th Congressional District. Eleven candidates are running to succeed U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, who is retiring after six terms. Eleven challengers will also seek to unseat U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner, who is seeking a second term serving Washington’s 5th Congressional District.
Tri-City voters will also weigh in on who represents them in Olympia. Many seats in the 8th, 14th, 15th and 16th legislative districts are up for reelection. They’ll also choose among dozens of candidates running for partisan county offices, state supreme court seats and a vacant Richland City Council race.
Benton County fire districts in West Richland and Paterson will also ask voters to raise taxes to fund fire protection and emergency medical services.
Where can I deposit my ballot?
There are 20 ballot drop boxes located throughout the Tri-Cities region. All of them will close at 8 p.m. on election day.
Benton County
- Benton County Elections Center, Walk-In (7122 W. Okanogan Place, Building F, Kennewick)
- Benton County Campus, Drive-Up (7122 W. Okanogan Place, Kennewick)
- Kennewick City Hall, Drive-Up (524 S. Auburn Street, Kennewick)
- Southridge Sports Complex, Drive-Up (2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick)
- Jefferson Park, Drive-Up (1400 George Washington Way, Richland)
- Badger Mountain Community Park, Drive-Up (350 Keene Road, Richland)
- WSU Tri-Cities, Drive-Up (2770 Crimson Way, Richland)
- Finley Middle School, Drive-Up (37208 S. Finley Road, Kennewick)
- Prosser Courthouse, Walk-Up (620 Market Street, Prosser)
- Benton City City Hall, Walk-Up (1009 Dale Ave., Benton City)
- West Richland City Hall, Drive-Up (3100 Belmont Blvd, West Richland)
- West Richland Library, Drive-Up (3803 W. Van Giesen Street, West Richland)
Franklin County
- Elections Division Office, Walk-In (404 W. Clark Street, Pasco)
- Elections Center Drop Box, Walk-Up (3rd Avenue and Clark Street, Pasco)
- Courthouse Parking Lot, Walk-Up (1016 N. 4th Ave., Pasco)
- HAPO/TRAC Center, Drive-Up (6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco)
- Fire District 3 Station, Drive-Up (2108 N. Road 84, Pasco)
- Mesa City Hall, Walk-Up (103 Franklin Street, Mesa)
- Connell PUD Shop, Drive-Up (619 W. Clark Street, Connell)
- Fire District 2 Station, Drive-Up (115 N. Violet Ave., Kahlotus)
