What Whatcom voters should know as deadline nears in vote-by-mail election
Whatcom County voters were choosing members of Congress and the state Legislature, among other elected positions as the state’s all-mail voting period was set to close at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Many voters were apparently waiting until the weekend to complete their ballots, because turnout jumped 5 points to 41% as updated turnout information was posted Monday evening, Nov. 7, at the Washington Secretary of State’s Office website.
Some things to know for Election Day:
▪ Ballots can be returned until 8 p.m. Tuesday at any of the special drop boxes around Whatcom County.
▪ Eligible residents can register and vote until the 8 p.m. deadline at the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office in the County Courthouse at 311 Grand Ave.
▪ Ballots can still be mailed, but they must have a postmark before 8 p.m. Tuesday in order to be accepted. So voters are advised to use a drop box this close to the deadline.
▪ Remember to sign your ballot envelope.
▪ Election returns are expected shortly after the 8 p.m. deadline, and The Bellingham Herald will have voting results online.
Overall voter returns were barely half of that from the last midterm election in 2018, when 77% of Whatcom County voters cast ballots halfway through former President Trump’s term.
Turnout was 60% in the 2014 midterms and 75% in 2010, for the two midterms when President Obama was in the Oval Office.
Ballot returns were expected shortly after the election deadline of 8 p.m. Tuesday, and a second count was expected by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, and posted online at the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office website.
Results are also available online at The Bellingham Herald.
In Whatcom County legislative races the 40th Legislative District includes the southern half of Bellingham and the rest of southern Whatcom County, the western part of Skagit County and all of San Juan County.
▪ In the House position 1 race, state Rep. Debra Lekanoff, D-Bow, is running for a third straight two-year term against Shannon Perkes, a Republican from Skagit County who was a write-in candidate for the Aug. 2 primary. Lekanoff took more than 90% of the primary vote.
▪ In the position 2 race, state Rep. Alex Ramel was seeking a second term against union official Trevor Smith. Both are Democrats from Bellingham.
In the 42nd District legislative races, Republicans were seeking to reclaim the House seats and keep the Senate in a traditionally red district that has trended more blue in recent election cycles.
Washington’s 42nd Legislative District includes much of downtown Bellingham, the city’s northern neighborhoods, and the rest of northern and eastern Whatcom County.
▪ For the district’s state Senate seat with a four-year term, Sen. Simon Sefzik was facing state Rep. Sharon Shewmake.
▪ For the House Position 1 seat, Rep. Alicia Rule, D-Blaine, was facing Republican challenger Tawsha Dykstra Thompson of Lynden.
▪ For the House Position 2 seat, Bellingham Democrat Joe Timmons was facing Dan Johnson of Laurel.
This story was originally published November 8, 2022 at 12:12 PM.
