Pamphlets, primary ballots headed for voters’ hands

Mid-July may not seem like election season, but candidates are in full campaign mode and voters are about to make some critical, long-lasting decisions.

In King County, citizens will soon receive voters’ pamphlets and — by the end of next week — ballots should be in hand.

Pamphlets are scheduled to hit the mail July 17 in King County. Ballots are also scheduled to be mailed out starting July 18.

All this is in preparation for the Aug. 7 primary election. It is again a “top two” format, meaning the No. 1 and No. 2 vote-getters in each race — regardless of party affiliation — will advance to November’s general election.

Voters can avoid using the mail by visiting a ballot drop box. Those will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from July 19 until 8 p.m. Aug. 7.

There are a number of ballot drop off locations throughout King County including one at the Covington Library, the Tahoma School District Building, the Hobart Food Market in Maple Valley and the Enumclaw Library.

Voters will whittle a large field running for the U.S. Senate. The list includes 29 candidates, including incumbent Maria Cantwell.

For Congress, voters in both counties will choose finalists in District 8, which spans both sides of the Cascades. With Dave Reichert retiring, there are a dozen hopefuls on the ballot; voters will pick from four Democrats, three Republicans, a Libertarian, one Independent Centrist Party candidate and three who claim no political preference.

The deadline for in-person voter registration for new voters is Monday, July 30.

For more election information, visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/elections.aspx.