August primary ballots set to hit mail

Washington’s Primary election ballots are expected to be mailed out to the majority of Washington voters this week, with the ballots set to be mailed Friday, July 15, and arrival expected in the following week.

According to a Secretary of State news release, ballots will go to more than four million voters in the state. Last week, League of Women Voters voter service co-chair Deb Olson told the Gazette she really is trying to encourage people to pay attention with this election cycle.

“I was just shocked when I saw how many candidates were running for state offices,” she said. “The ballot is going to be very crowded. There are 15 people running for Senator (Patty) Murray’s seat. Please read your ballot carefully.”

The ballot here will feature local candidates, who include County Commissioners Dean Kinzer and Art Swannack running unopposed for re-election, and Attorney Gary Libey, also running unopposed, seeking the soon-to-be vacated Superior Court Judge seat currently held by Judge David Frazier, who is retiring at the end of the year. The Ninth District race between Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy; Hailey Roemer, R-Pullman, and Jennifer Goulet, D-Pasco, will be narrowed down to two candidates after the primary. Rep. Joe Schmick of Colfax and Senator Mark Schoesler of Ritzville, both Republicans, will also be on the ballot, though they are running unopposed.

All nine statewide offices will be on the ballot, which includes the race for the governor’s seat. Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, is currently up against 10 candidates. In total, there are 671 candidates running for federal, legislative, county, judicial and local offices on the full ballot. Five incumbents are not seeking to retain their positions, which include the lieutenant governor, treasurer, auditor, lands commissioner and superintendent of public instruction.

Top two Primary winners for each office will go to the November ballot, regardless of party. For this Primary, voters are not required to mark a party declaration.

Whitman County Auditor Eunice Coker said there are resources available for voters to learn more about candidates.

“MyVote online does have links for the candidates, and sometimes they even have video,” she said, noting she prefers the videos to be able to see candidates’ mannerisms. “I also suggest strongly that if there are any local forums that people go, even if they just go to listen.”

The League of Women Voters will host a candidate forum tomorrow, July 15, from 7-9 p.m. in Colfax with Ninth District Candidates.

The League also hosted a forum on Wednesday, July 13, for the Fifth Congressional District race.

Coker also suggested looking candidates up online and using social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook. She also stressed the importance of the Primary election, noting she is hoping for a big turnout.

“This is the chance for the voters to go out and say who they want number one and number two to be. It’s really important that you not sleep through this one,” she said.

Ballots will be due back to the elections office by 8 p.m. Aug. 2. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Aug. 2.