Ballots for the Nov. 4 general election are starting to trickle in to elections offices in Clark County and around the state.
As of Monday, about 10.6 percent of eligible voters had returned ballots. That’s 417,403 ballots out of more than 3.9 million that were mailed earlier this month, according to the secretary of state’s office. The state is on track to see its projected 60 percent voter turnout.
In Clark County, voters have returned 13.48 percent, or 33,570, of the 248,980 ballots.
Cathie Garber, the county’s election supervisor, said she’s projecting 51 percent voter turnout locally, but hoping for 60 percent.
“I would love to see voters take the time to cast an informed vote,” she said.
Secretary of State Kim Wyman said in an earlier interview with The Columbian she expects the county charter vote will boost participation in Clark County. Spirited campaigning has been taking place on both sides.
Also for the first time in years, Clark County voters will choose a new sheriff. Voters also have an opportunity to choose who will represent them in Washington, D.C., and Olympia for the next two years.
Two diametrically opposed gun measures are on the ballot: Initiative 594 would expand mandatory background checks on buyers to include private and online sales. Initiative 591 would prevent the state from adopting stricter standards than what federal law dictates.
Class size initiative
Another initiative on the ballot will ask whether to lower class sizes in public schools. Initiative 1351 calls for shrinking classroom sizes over a four-year period.
Voters must have their ballots postmarked or dropped in ballot boxes by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 in order to be counted.
Dave Ammons, spokesman for the secretary of state, said some voters wait until the last minute to hand in their ballots.
“The most common reason we hear is that they want to be alert to any last-minute developments. Once a ballot is cast, it cannot be recalled,” he wrote in an email.
Military and overseas ballots will be accepted through Nov. 24. The state certifies the election on Dec. 2.
In the August primary, voter turnout in Clark County was 28.61 percent.
