Tuesday is primary election day in Washington state. If you haven't yet voted your ballot you have until 8:00PM Tuesday to send your ballot to the Yakima County Auditors Office.

MANY BALLOTS WILL GO IN THE TRASH INSTEAD OF THE MAIL

Yakima County Auditor Charles Ross says he expects a 25% to 28% turnout when the election is over. You don't need a stamp to send your ballot in the mail and drop boxes are located in numerous places all around the valley. For a location near you check;

https://www.yakimacounty.us/1136/Where-to-return-your-ballot-and-accessib

Each day the Yakima County Auditor provides updated numbers as to how many ballots have been returned. Currently of the nearly 89,000 ballots that were sent out 13,889 have been returned or 15.54%.

LOW TURNOUT FOR A PRIMARY ISN'T UNUSUAL

Ross says there's always a low voter turnout in the primary election especially in a non-presidential election year. For example;

2019  13,026   28%

2017  10,083   24%

2015  10,613   26%

2013  13,706   25%

2011  13,229   26%

Yakima County Auditor Charles Ross says if you receive more than one ballot or a ballot for someone who no longer lives at your home you need to contact the Auditors Office to let them know that so they can make a correction in the system. Ross says the system relies on people to be honest about voting. Ross says every ballot is numbered and assigned to each voter. When the ballot is voted the door is closed in the system so additional ballots, while they may be mailed to you aren't counted multiple times.
August 3 is the primary election in which the top two winners advance to the general election.

NOT EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY IS VOTING TODAY

Yakima County Auditor Charles Ross says not all voters received a ballot in the primary election, only those voters who live in a district with more than two candidates running for a position have a ballot to vote.

Along with the city council races in Yakima, a seat in District 3 on the Board of Yakima County Commissioners is up for grabs and 2 seats are open on the Yakima School District Board of Directors.

NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE? YOU CAN DO IT TODAY

If you are not registered to vote remember you can register to vote on the secretary of state's website or you can walk into the Yakima County Auditors Office inside the Yakima County Courthouse and register. There's no deadline to register you can wait until the day of the election if you want.
Ross says the office has issued 88, 800 ballots that are now arriving in mailboxes.
You can place your ballot in the mail no stamp is needed or a drop box. Drop boxes are located throughout the county. Your ballot is due on August 3.