Presidential primary ballots due Tuesday

Washington voters have until Tuesday evening to turn in ballots for the May 24 presidential primary.

Voters can drop ballots in drop boxes throughout Benton and Franklin counties. They may also return them by mail as long as they are postmarked no later than May 24.

More than a million Washington voters have already returned their ballots. Local elections officials expect the turnout could top 45 percent.

Benton County reported it had received 30,280 ballots as of Monday afternoon. That represents a turnout of about 30 percent of the 101,000 registered voters.

In Franklin County, 24 percent of the county’s 31,730 registered voters had returned ballots as of Friday. Officials expect the final tally to go higher as election day arrives.

Washington voters must declare a party affiliation to participate in the 2016 presidential primary. The primary results will determine which of four candidates Washington’s 44 national delegates will support.

The ballot includes Donald Trump, the presumed nominee, as well as U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson.

The Democratic results are not binding. The party awarded its 1,800 national delegates based on at caucuses held in March.

County elections offices have been opening ballots since they began trickling in but will not tabulate results until Tuesday. They will begin releasing preliminary results shortly after the 8 p.m. ballot deadline.

Franklin County drop boxes are at the TRAC facility, Fire District 3, 2108 Road 84, at the elections annex, 116 N. Third,Franklin County Courthouse and in Connell at the Franklin PUD office, 619 W. Clark St.

Benton County drop boxes are at the Benton County Courthouse in Prosser, Benton City City Hall, Kennewick City Hall, West Richland City Hall, Jefferson Park and the auditor’s Kennewick and Richland annexes.

This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 4:40 PM with the headline "Presidential primary ballots due Tuesday."