Ballots and voters’ pamphlets for the Aug. 6 primary election will arrive in mailboxes throughout King County this week. King County Elections will mail nearly 1.2 million ballots on July 17. Voters’ pamphletsare mailed separately by bulk mail and may arrive on a different day than ballots.

“Voters should watch for their ballot in the mail and contact us if they haven’t received it by Wednesday, July 24,” said Sherril Huff, Elections Director.

The county already sent more than 17,400 ballots to voters living overseas and those serving in the military to allow extra time for delivery.

“Ballot drop locations have been expanded to provide more options for voters to return their ballots,” Huff said. “Voters can return ballots to any of 25 locations, including our three Accessible Voting Centers.”

The expanded locations now include 12 scheduled drop vans for the primary and general elections (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. Aug. 6; vans will be staffed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 3 and Aug. 5, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day, Aug.  6.

You can vote, sign the return envelope, and get your ballot back as soon as you receive it. Ballots can be mailed with a first class stamp or returned to a drop-off location. Ballots must be postmarked by Aug. 6 or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on election day. Ballots can also be returned to accessible voting centers during their business hours.

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 July 29

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, July 29.

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