Primary election underway

DAVENPORT – Ballots for the Aug. 4 primary election are set to be mailed out to the 7,548 registered voters in Lincoln County this week in preparation for what

Auditor Shelly Johnston called a "nominating" election.

"This is an election that essentially winnows down the number of candidates for the offices that are open," Johnston explained.

Washington State has a "top two" primary system that allows the top-two vote getters, regardless of party, to advance to the general election. For the 2020 election, that means the field of candidates for U.S. Fifth District Congressional representative, governor and Washington 13th Legislative District representative will all drill down to two candidates in each race.

Voters who have not yet registered to vote can do so up until and on Aug. 4 at the Lincoln County Auditor's Office in the Lincoln County Courthouse located at 450 Logan Street in Davenport. Proof of identification, such as a driver's license or a state identification card, are required to register to vote. New residents to the county may also need to provide residency verification, such as a piece of mail sent to their Lincoln County address.

All voters in Lincoln County will receive their ballot by mail and ballots must must have a return postmark date of no later than Aug. 4. The county also provides drop box locations in Davenport and Harrington.

The ballot drop box locations are: Lincoln County Courthouse, Auditor's office from 9 a.m. to 3p.m. There is also a 24-hour, drive-up drop box in the east parking lot and at Harrington City Hall, 11 S. Third St., Harrington.