Remember to vote — Tuesday’s the day

Anyone who has yet to vote in the primary election had better get to it.

Tuesday is the last day to get your ballots in the mail or into one of the county drop boxes. You can’t put it off until tomorrow any longer.

We know these local races lack the fervor and anticipation of last November’s general election — which included one of the most contentious presidential campaigns in recent memory — but this election matters. Check out our candidate stories by clicking on the News section in our menu bar and then clicking on Elections. There, you can read about those running for office before you mark your ballot.

The people who run for city councils and school boards have a direct effect on your daily life. Property tax issues, road construction projects, park priorities and curriculum policies for our kids all are decided by people running in elections like this one.

The top two vote-getters in each race will advance to the Nov. 7 general election.

On the Benton County ballot, there are two races for the Kennewick City Council and West Richland City Council, and four on the Richland City Council.

There also is an advisory vote between appointed Benton County Sheriff Jerry Hatcher and Kennewick Police Sgt. Ken Lattin. The two will move on to the general election, but the race appears on the ballot because it is a partisan contest.

Former Benton County Sheriff Steve Keane retired after he was diagnosed with cancer. His term expires next year, and either Hatcher or Lattin will be chosen to finish it out.

On the opposite side of the river, Franklin County’s ballot includes six nonpartisan races, including two for Pasco School Board, two for Pasco City Council, one for Othello School Board and one for Connell City Council.

Franklin County ballots have a new look after the county adopted new and improved election equipment. Voters now have to fill in an oval beside their candidate choice instead of drawing a link between two arrows.

Two years ago, voter turnout in Benton County’s odd year primary election was the lowest in the state at 16.7 percent. Franklin County managed a voter turnout of 22.1 percent, which put it fifth from the bottom.

Statewide, voter turnout for the 2015 primary election was 25 percent.

It’s something to be proud of. We hope our citizens do a better job this election.

Voting is a privilege too many people take for granted. The candidates running for office have worked hard on their campaigns, and the least their neighbors can do is turn in a ballot.

Campaign signs

And while we are on the topic of election campaigns, those candidates who don’t survive the primary election should take their campaign signs down right away.

State rules require they be removed within 10 days of the election, and in Kennewick, it’s within a week.

We thank everyone who made the decision to run for office. Whether you win or lose after the ballots are counted, we appreciate you giving it a shot and providing voters a choice.

This story was originally published July 31, 2017 at 8:16 AM with the headline "Remember to vote — Tuesday’s the day."