General election ballots out to registered voters

Published 1:31 am Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Voting in the 2016 General Election is nearly underway with more than 50,000 ballots mailed Oct. 19 to all registered Clallam County voters.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Voters do not have to declare a party affiliation to vote.

Those needing a replacement ballot may contact Clallam County Elections at 417-2221 or jmaxion@co.clallam.wa.us, or access a printable ballot via the secure website MyVote at www.myvote.wa.gov.

Those not registered in Washington have until Monday, Oct. 31, to register in person at the Clallam County Auditor’s Office, 223 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles, to participate in the General Election. Business hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 8 or placed in an official ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Ballot drop off options include 24-hour drive-up ballot boxes at the Clallam County Courthouse in Port Angeles and Sequim Village Shopping Center near JCPenney’s in Sequim, as well as a drop box in the Forks District II Court lobby.

A printed statewide voters’ pamphlet that includes all local candidate races and ballot measures was mailed to all Washington residences earlier this month, with additional copies available at local post offices, libraries, city halls and the Auditor’s Office.

A pdf of the local voters’ pamphlet and an interactive Online Voters’ Guide also are viewable on the Clallam County Elections website at www.clallam.net/elections.

Voting made easier for those with disabilities

Voting accessibility in Clallam County has increased ahead of the 2016 General Election with the addition of new ADA-compliant voting equipment and signage at the County Courthouse in Port Angeles.

Elections officials recently unveiled the county’s first wheelchair-accessible voting booth, now available for use in the Auditor’s Office at 223 E. 4th St., as well as improved exterior ADA signage at the Courthouse.

All were supplied free through Election Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities grant funding via the Department of Health and Human Services and administered by the Washington Secretary of State’s Office in a statewide effort to improve voter accessibility.

The additions come at the start of the 18-day voting period for the 2016 General Election and coincide with Washington state’s first “Get out the Disability Vote Week,” a weeklong outreach effort held Oct. 24-28 to assist and encourage the disability community to learn more about accessible voting options.

An accessible voting unit, designed for disabled voters to use independently, is also available in the Auditor’s Office. Regular business hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours Monday, Nov. 7 from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

According to the Washington Secretary of State’s Office, the USPS also offers a special program for mailing free matter for persons who are blind or visually impaired. As part of the program, anyone who cannot see or use conventionally-printed materials due to a physical impairment may qualify for free postage. Details about this program can be found on the USPS website at http://about.usps.com/publications/pub347.