Ballots for the Nov. 4 general election must be postmarked, hand-delivered or left in one of several drop boxes by Tuesday (Nov. 4). Mailed ballots must be signed and have sufficient postage; check with your local post office for the cut-off time for postmarked ballots.
The Okanogan County Auditor’s Office, 149 Third Ave. N., Room 104, in Okanogan, will be open so voters can obtain replacement ballots, drop off voted ballots, obtain provisional ballots, and use the accessible voting units. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; on Election Day the office will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
There are ballot boxes at several locations around the county where ballots can be dropped off up to Election Day: at the Tonasket City Hall/Library Complex, 209 S. Whitcomb Ave.; in Omak next to the police station, 8 N. Ash. St.; and in Pateros in the Pateros Mall parking lot. Drop boxes will close at 8 p.m.
Some valley residents may not have received ballots because mail was stolen from mailboxes in some areas. The assessor’s office will reissue a substitute ballot upon request.
In the Methow Valley, voters will be deciding the fate of Proposition 1, which calls for a levy increase to support construction of a new fire station in Winthrop for Okanogan County Fire District 6.
Running for the new position of elected county coroner are Dave Rodriguez and Gary V. Reams. In the only other contested race, for county assessor, incumbent Scott Furman is being challenged by Les V. Stokes to fill a four-year term.
In other county races, running unopposed for four-year terms are County Auditor Laurie Thomas, Clerk Charleen Groomes, District 3 County Commissioner Jim DeTro, Prosecuting Attorney Karl Sloan, Sheriff Frank Rogers and Treasurer Leah Mc Cormack.
Okanogan County District Court judges Heidi Smith and Charles Short are also running unopposed to fill four-year terms.
In the race to fill the District 1 seat on the Okanogan County Public Utility District board of commissioners, incumbent David Womack and Scott Vejraska are competing for the six-year term.
In the state’s 12th Legislative District, representatives Brad Hawkins and Cary Condotta are running unopposed to fill two-year terms. Both represent the Methow Valley.
Clint Didier and Dan Newhouse, both Republicans, are vying to fill the 4th Congressional District seat vacated by the retirement of longtime Congressman Doc Hastings.
Three initiatives — one affecting statewide funding for K-12 education, and two having to do with gun control — are on the ballot. Four Washington Supreme Court positions are also up for election.
Oct. 27 was the last day for in-person registration to vote in the general election.
For questions about the election or about your ballot, call the Okanogan County auditor’s office at (509) 422-7240.
