Election Day arrives in Jefferson County and across the state today, ending nearly three weeks of balloting in the all-mail election.

The county returned a total of 10,543 ballots as of Monday, the county Auditor’s Office reported.

That is 48.1 percent of the 21,991 ballots the office’s elections division mailed out to registered voters beginning Oct. 14, according to Karen Cartmel, the Auditor’s Office chief deputy auditor/elections coordinator.

Unless those who haven’t voted put their completed ballot in the mail in time for a Nov. 3 postmark, they can ensure voting by taking ballots to the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend by 8 p.m., when polling officially closes.

Initial tallies are expected within a half-hour after the close.

Port, other races

Jefferson County voters are casting ballots in two Port of Port Townsend commissioner races.

For the District 2 position, incumbent Dave Thompson, 66, is challenged by Bob Schuessler, 66.

For the District 3 position, incumbent Herb Beck, 71, is challenged by Leif Erickson, 58.

In Brinnon, fire district commission Position 2 incumbent Kenneth McEdwards is being challenged by Mike Eastman.

For the Jefferson Healthcare hospital district Position 4 seat, incumbent Kathy J. Hill, 64, is being challenged by Marie Dressler, 63.

Voters in Gardiner are electing a Gardener Cemetery District commissioner for Position 3, which pits Bob McCauley and Richard Quinnell.

Gardiner voters also are helping to decide Sequim School District director for Position 2 between Virginia O’Neil and Jon Kirshbaum because the school district crosses the county line into Gardiner.

New this year, Sequim-based Clallam County Fire District No. 3 also crosses the county line, so voters in Gardiner are helping to decide a 50-cent or less tax levy to fund emergency medical care and emergency services for 10 years starting next year.

Elections administered by Jefferson County are also being held in the western reaches of the county at Queets and Clearwater near the Pacific coast.

Statewide measures

In Jefferson County and statewide, Referendum 71 asks voters to approve or reject the final expansion to the state’s domestic partnership law, which grants registered domestic partners additional state-granted rights currently given only to married couples.

Under state law, heterosexual senior citizens also can register as domestic partners.

The expanded law adds benefits including the right to use sick leave to care for a domestic partner, and rights related to adoption, child custody and child support.

And Initiative 1033, promoted by sponsor Tim Eyman, would cap the annual growth of state, county and city general funds at the rate of inflation plus population growth. Revenue above the cap would be used to reduce property taxes.

Voters could approve additional revenue sources that go over the growth cap. Governments could collect revenue above the limit only by getting voter approval for new taxes.

Except for the extreme West Jefferson County ballot items, all candidates and measures — including R-71 and I-1033 are profiled in the Peninsula Daily News Voter Guide, which debuted Oct. 16 and is still available free of charge at public contact points such as the courthouse and libraries as well as at the PDN’s Port Townsend offices, 1939 E. Sims Way.

The guide is also accessible online at www.peninsuladailynews.com.