As of Tuesday: Four percent of Aug. 7 ballots already returned

Less than four percent of ballots for the Aug. 7 primary election had been returned to Whitman County’s elections office as of Tuesday.

Ballots were sent out last Friday by county elections staffers to 19,376 voters. Elections Supervisor Debbie Hooper reported Tuesday that 754 ballots had been returned.

The primary ballot includes 18 offices that voters across the county will decide who advances to the November general.

The mailing included 5,822 to voters who reside in commissioner district one, which will decide the three-way race between incumbent Greg Partch of Garfield and challengers Art Swannack of Lamont and Bill Tensfeld of Rosalia. All three are Republicans.

Ballots for the district two race between incumbent Democrat Pat O’Neill of Johnson and Republican challenger Dean Kinzer of Ewartsville were mailed out to 4,384 voters.

The District 1 race will narrow the field of three Republicans to two for the general election. District 2 candidates O’Neill and Kinzer will be on November’s countywide ballot regardless of the primary outcome.

Funding propositions will be on ballots for the towns of Farmington and Garfield; parks and rec districts in Garfield and LaCrosse; fire districts around St. John and Pullman, and the Colfax cemetery district.

All three 9th District legislators will appear on the ballot, though none are opposed.

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is being challenged by three candidates: Democrat Rich Cowan, Republican Randall Yearout and Independent Ian Moody. Sen. Maria Cantwell has seven challengers as she seeks a third term.

Also on the ballot will be primary elections for several state offices.