Ballots for Aug. 5 primary to be mailed Thursday

Snohomish County Elections will begin mailing ballots for the August 5 primary to about 470,000 registered voters this week. Delivery will continue through the weekend and into early next week. The ballot features important local races and measures, but around 60,000 voters will not receive a ballot due to a lack of races. Auditor Garth Fell highlighted the significance of local elections, stating that voter participation is vital for shaping community priorities. This year's changes to ballot materials include a reformatted local voters’ pamphlet for easier navigation and a streamlined ballot return process.

Voters may notice the removal of the ballot stub that needed detachment in previous elections. Registration for the election remains open until July 28, with in-person services available until 8 p. m. on Election Day. Voters can return their ballots via mail or use one of the 35 secure drop boxes available around the county.