OLYMPIA — Data from the Washington Secretary of State shows that ballot return percentages in the Columbia Basin region are lagging behind the state average.
Statewide, only 26.79 percent of ballots have been returned thus far. In Adams County only 19.63 percent have been returned. Grant County is reporting an abysmal 16.4 percent return rate.
More urbanized Columbia region counties are showing only slightly higher return rates.
Douglas and Chelan counties are leading the way with returns closer to 30 percent.
The United States Postal Service has warned that ballots may take a week or more to arrive at county offices and have recommended sending them back early if you plan to use the mail. State law requires a ballot to be postmarked by the end of election day to be counted. But USPS says they do not postmark every piece of mail, and the August primary election saw record numbers of ballots rejected due to late delivery or postmark.
The USPS website says that you can ask for your ballot to be stamped at the counter if using the mail is your only option.
Each county also has dropboxes available in key locations for voters who prefer to deliver their ballot directly to the county.
