It’s Election Day in Clallam and Jefferson counties and around the state.
Ballots must be postmarked today or dropped off by 8 p.m. at one of several drop boxes on the North Olympic Peninsula to be counted in the general election.
Voters in Clallam County will choose representatives for Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks city councils; the Board of Clallam County Commissioners; Port of Port Angeles commission; Olympic Medical Center commission; a Charter Review Commission and a bevy of local school, park and fire district boards.
Port Angeles voters will consider approving a one-tenth of 1 percent sales tax increase for affordable housing initiatives. Sequim-area Fire District No. 3 voters will decide whether to renew an emergency medical services levy. Joyce-area Fire District No. 4 voters will consider a property tax levy-lid lift to offset a reduction in timber revenue.
Jefferson County voters will select Port Townsend City Council members, a Port of Port Townsend commissioner and school board members.
Jefferson County voters also will consider a $15 million levy to improve Port of Port Townsend facilities. Brinnon-area voters will decide whether to approve a $1.2 million bond to replace outdated fire district vehicles. Voters on the Coyle Peninsula will consider a parks levy for the operations and maintenance of Laurel B. Johnson Community Center.
Voters statewide have a crowded ballot to fill out with a referendum on affirmative action and an initiative on the price of car tabs among the measures they are being asked to decide.
Referendum 88 asks voters whether they want to approve or reject Initiative 1000, which was passed by the Legislature in April. I-1000 amends current statutes to allow one’s minority status to be considered as a contributing factor in state employment, contracting and admission to public colleges and universities.
Initiative 976 would lower most taxes paid through annual vehicle registration to $30 and largely revoke the authority of state and local governments to add taxes and fees without voter approval.
The measure also would repeal taxes and fees already in place, potentially costing the state and local governments more than $4 billion in revenue over the next six years, according to the state Office of Financial Management.
An update to a constitutional amendment on government powers in an emergency enacted during the Cold War also is before voters.
Resolution 8200 asks voters to broaden the section on “continuity of governmental operations in periods of emergency” so that continuity is ensured not only in case of attack but also in case of “catastrophic incidents” such as a massive earthquake.
Voters also are deciding on 12 non-binding advisory votes on revenue bills approved by the Legislature earlier this year, including an increase in business and occupation taxes on large banks and a change to the state’s real estate excise tax. Those votes stem from a provision under Initiative 960, which passed in 2007. It gives the public the chance to weigh in on tax increases, even though regardless of the outcome, no changes in state law occur from the votes.
Voter guide, drop boxes
The Peninsula Daily News’ 2019 general election voter’s guide is available at tinyurl.com/PDN-Fall-Voter-Guide-2019.
In Clallam County, voters can drop off their ballots at the Auditor’s Office at the county courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.
Here are the locations for outdoor drop boxes in Clallam County:
• Port Angeles — Two in the parking lot of the Clallam County courthouse.
• Sequim — Sequim Village Shopping Center parking lot at the J.C. Penney store, 651 W. Washington St.
• Carlsborg — Sunny Farms Country Store, 261461 U.S. Highway 101.
• Forks — Forks City Hall, 500 E. Division St.
• Clallam Bay — Clallam Bay Library, 16990 state Highway 112.
• Sekiu — Clallam County Public Utility District, 15 Sekiu Airport Road.
• Neah Bay — Washburn’s General Store, 1450 Bayview Ave.
In Jefferson County, voters can drop off their ballots at the Auditor’s Office at the county courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend, from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.
Here are the locations for outdoor drop boxes in Jefferson County:
• Port Townsend — Jefferson County courthouse.
• Port Hadlock — Jefferson County library, 620 Cedar Ave.
• Nordland — Nordland Fire Station, 6633 Flagler Road.
• Quilcene — Quilcene Community Center, 294952 U.S. Highway 101.
• Brinnon — Brinnon Community Center, 306144 U.S. Highway 101.
The Clallam County Auditor’s Office had received 13,354 of the 53,791 ballots mailed to registered voters as of Monday. That’s an early voter turnout of 24.8 percent.
The Jefferson County Auditor’s Office had received 8,198 of the 25,852 ballots mailed to active voters as of Monday. That’s a turnout of 31.7 percent.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.