King County Elections mails ballots today for the Nov. 5 general election. Voters’ pamphlets are mailed separately by bulk mail and may arrive on a different day than ballots. All households will receive two voters’ pamphlets for this election, the state edition and the King County local edition.

“Voters can mark and return their ballots starting the day they receive them,” said Sherril Huff, Elections Director. “Getting ballots back early gives voters extra time in case there are any problems with their signatures.  It also helps us save taxpayers money since processing is more efficient when ballots come in ahead of the election day deadline.”

The county already sent about 17,000 ballots to voters living overseas and those serving in the military to allow extra time for delivery.

Citizens can return ballots by mail with a first class stamp, postmarked by Nov. 5, or by 8 p.m. Nov. 5 to any of 25 locations, including ballot drop off boxes, drop off vans, and Accessible Voting Centers.

Drop off locations now include 12 scheduled drop vans (up from three last year) to provide better service for voters. There are also ten, 24-hour drop boxes.  Drop boxes are open 24 hours/day until 8 p.m. Nov. 5, vans will be staffed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 2 and Nov. 4, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day, Nov. 5.

Voters’ pamphlets are available online, at Seattle and King County libraries, and at the Elections office, 919 SW Grady Way, Renton.

Tips for voting:

• Read the entire ballot top to bottom, and front to back before voting
• Read the voters’ pamphlet
• Use a black ink pen to fill out the ballot
• Tear the stub off of the top of the ballot
• Sign the voter declaration on the back of the envelope using your standard signature
• Return your ballot early so that it is part of the Election Night results report and there is enough time to correct any issues that may be associated with your signature

In person registration deadline Oct. 28

King County residents not currently registered to vote in Washington can register in person at the King County Elections office or the Voter Registration Annex through 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28.

For more information, visit the Elections website, or call 206-296-VOTE (8683).