People voting in the November general election should be careful not to tear their ballots, said Whatcom County Auditor Debbie Adelstein.

Tears can happen when voters remove the stubs without opening their ballots fully. Torn ballots cannot be entered into the counting machine and must be duplicated, Adelstein said. That takes up staff time in what promises to be a busy election season.

County elections officials expect about 100,000 ballots to be returned, which would match the 81 percent turnout predicted by Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed.

Voters have until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, to return ballots to drop boxes in the county. If voting by mail, make sure the ballot is postmarked no later than Nov. 6. Details: whatcomcounty.us/auditor.

Reach RALPH SCHWARTZ at ralph.schwartz@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2298.