Snohomish County Elections mailed ballots today to over 372,000 voters for the November 2 General Election; voters’ pamphlets have been sent to each household.  Ballots to military and overseas voters were mailed on September 18.  The General Election ballot features races in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, the State legislature, the County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and state and local court systems.  The General Election ballot will also feature many state and local ballot measures.
 
““There is a high level of interest in this year’s General Election. Many races and issues are peaking voter awareness.  I am pleased when voters get involved and participate in the election process,” said County Auditor Carolyn Weikel.
 
Snohomish County conducts all of its elections entirely by mail. There are no polling locations.  All voters will be mailed a ballot to their current residential or mailing address beginning October 14.
 
Voters choosing to return their voted ballot through the mail must ensure that it is postmarked no later than November 2.  Voters may return their voted ballot postage free to any 24-hour ballot drop box located in Snohomish County.  Nine 24-hour ballot drop boxes are replacing five staffed Community Collection Centers and will allow the county to expand direct ballot return services at no additional cost.  Ballots can be deposited at these locations any time until 8:00 pm on Election Day.
 
More information is listed on the insert delivered with each ballot and can also be found online at www.snoco.org/elections .  Voted ballots returned to the 24-hour ballot drop boxes must be deposited directly into the ballot drop box; staff at the sites will not accept ballots.
 
The nine 24-hour ballot drop boxes are open to receive voted ballots beginning October 14.  The box locations are:
 
Arlington Sno-Isle Library
135 N Washington Ave, Arlington
 
Edmonds Sno-Isle Library
650 Main St, Edmonds
 
Everett Courthouse Campus
Rockefeller Ave and Wall St, Everett
 
Lynnwood Sno-Isle Library
19200 44th Ave, Lynnwood
 
Marysville Sno-Isle Library
6120 Grove St, Marysville
 
Mill Creek
159th Pl SE – traffic island at Post Office
 
Monroe Sno-Isle Library
1070 Village Way, Monroe
 
Mukilteo Sno-Isle Library
4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd, Mukilteo
 
Snohomish Sno-Isle Library
311 Maple Ave, Snohomish
 
Snohomish County Elections has accessible voting equipment designed for voters with disabilities available in the Auditor’s Office beginning October 13 through November 2 and at the Lynnwood Sno-Isle Library on Monday, November 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Election Day, Tuesday, November 2 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  The Lynnwood Sno-Isle Library is located at 19200 44th Ave, Lynnwood.
 
Voters who did not participate in the August 17 Primary will notice a new design to the return envelope.  The simpler design is more intuitive for voters to use and allows for more efficient processing once it is received by the Auditor’s Office.  The new design also saved the County approximately $60,000 in 2010.  Snohomish County is one of several counties making the transition to new envelopes this year following changes in state law during the 2010 legislative session.
 
Snohomish County Auditor’s Office is located on the first floor of the Snohomish County Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett.  The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office will have extended hours on Election Day, Tuesday, November 2 from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
 
Snohomish County Elections may be reached at 425-388-3444.