PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Auditor’s Office has received 43 percent of the presidential primary ballots it has issued to voters.
Voters had by Friday returned 11,310 of the 26,267 ballots issued in Tuesday’s all-mail election.
Clallam County’s return rate was 38.50 percent as of Thursday, the last date for which results were provided. Voters had returned 20,919 ballots of the 54,341 issued.
Voters must declare a Republican or Democrat party affiliation for a primary election ballot to be valid. The information is made available to both parties which, as major political parties under state law, are the only parties listed.
Republican voters have one choice: President Donald J. Trump.
Democrats will find 13 names on the ballot, although most of the contenders have dropped out by now. Still in the running are Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard.
Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday — no postage required — or returned to the county Auditor’s Office, which will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the county courthouse, or a ballot drop-box by 8 p.m. that day.
Drop boxes are at:
• County Courthouse – 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend, outside in the back parking lot.
• Brinnon Community Center – 306144 U.S. Highway 101.
• Quilcene Community Center – 294952 U.S. Highway 101.
• Jefferson County Library – 620 Cedar Ave., Port Hadlock.
• Nordland Fire Station – 6633 Flagler Road, Nordland.
For more information, see https://co.jefferson.wa.us/182/Auditor or call 360-385-9117.