Kitsap Presidential Primary ballots in the mail this week

February 20, 2024

PORT ORCHARD – Just as the Special Election is ending, voters in Kitsap County will be receiving ballots for the 2024 Presidential Primary

Ballots will be mailed this week to all Washington voters for an election that happens no more than once every four years and, according to Kitsap County Auditor Paul Andrews, is actually two elections in one.

"The Presidential Primary is a nominating exercise for the major parties. If you want to have a say in who one of the parties picks as its presidential nominee, you pick one of the parties and mark your ballot for someone in that party." Andrews said.

Unlike other elections, to vote in the Presidential Primary in Washington a voter must choose a party preference, then on the ballot select a candidate from that party. When ballots are returned the ballots are separated by party preference, and then processed as two separate elections.

"We understand that the way this election is unique in Washington presents a tough choice of whether or not to vote," Andrews said. "The declaration you would be marking says you prefer a party, not that you are a member of that party, but we know that for some independent voters that still offers a choice they'd rather not make."

This election will also mark the introduction of new "I voted" stickers that will be used throughout 2024. The county chose three different stickers following a contest in which 16 Kitsap County residents created 29 different designs. The three that were selected are:

Each ballot packet will have one of the stickers. The designs selected were crafted by Kitsap County residents, Steve Johnson and Brian Carlisle of Bremerton and Barbara Roberts of Poulsbo.

Kitsap County Elections recommends using ballot drop boxes to return ballots, but voters can also do so by mail without postage. Voters returning their ballots by mail should do so by March 5, a week ahead of the election.

Online and mail registrations and address changes must be received by March 4th. Residents can register to vote in person at the Kitsap County Auditor's Office, 619 Division Street in Port Orchard from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents can also register to vote at one of three vote centers from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m on Saturday March 9, and Monday March 11. On Election Day, March 12, the vote centers are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The locations are:

• Kitsap County Administration Building, 619 Division Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366
• Marvin Williams Recreation Center, 725 Park Avenue, Bremerton, WA 98337
• Poulsbo Fire Station, 911 Liberty Road, Poulsbo, WA, 98370.
  

Ballots must be returned to one of the county's drop boxes by 8 p.m. on March 12th, or postmarked by that day.

For more information about Washington's Presidential Primary, go to the Washington Secretary of State's Presidential Primary FAQ page.

For all election information, go to kitsap.gov/elections.

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