Washington state’s primary election day is today, Aug. 2 and all ballots must be postmarked today or returned to a drop box by 8 p.m. in order to be counted.
There are two ballot drop boxes in Renton at the following locations:
Fairwood Library
17009 140th Ave. SE
and
King County Elections
919 S.W. Grady Way
The King County Elections building also serves as an accessible voting center.
This year’s ballot is loaded with dozens of wide-open races as voters narrow the field for each office to two top vote-getters who will advance to the fall General Election. In all, 671 candidates are running for federal, statewide, legislative, county, judicial and local offices, and hundreds more are running for Democratic and Republican precinct committee officer.
Voters are choosing finalists for all nine statewide elected officials, including governor. Five of the incumbents are not seeking re-election: lieutenant governor, treasurer, auditor, lands commissioner and superintendent of public instruction.
Washington also will winnow the field for U.S. Senate seat now held by Patty Murray. All 10 U.S. House seats are up this year, including the 7th District, where the dean of the state delegation, Jim McDermott, is retiring.
Most of the Legislature is on the ballot, too, including all 98 House seats and 26 of the 49 Senate positions.
The top two Primary winners in each office will advance to the General Election, without regard to party. Voters do not register by party and may vote for their favorite for each office.
One nonpartisan state Supreme Court race, for the seat now occupied by Chief Justice Barbara Madsen, will be on the Primary ballot. Two other incumbent justices have a lone challenger and will not be on the ballot until the General Election.
The presidential candidates will appear on the November ballot. Washington had input through Presidential Primary and caucuses held earlier. Under state law, the Republican and Democratic national nominees automatically go to Washington ballot. Other minor party or independent tickets are qualifying by gathering 1,000 voter signatures at convention(s) no later than July 23.
Statewide ballot propositions also will be voted on in the fall election.
