8 more ballot boxes installed in Clark County

Eight more ballot boxes have been installed around Clark County ahead of the Nov. 3 election, bringing the county’s total ballot drop sites up to 20.

The drop boxes will open Oct. 18, and they’ll be available for voters to drop off their ballots 24 hours per day up until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Ballot boxes are now stationed at the following locations:

• Clark College, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver (by Penguin Building, near flagpole, walk-up only)

• Clark Public Utilities Operations Center, 8600 N.E. 117th Ave., Vancouver (southeast parking lot)

• Downtown Vancouver, West 14th and Esther streets

• Fisher’s Landing Transit Center, 3510 S.E. 164th Ave., Vancouver

• 99th Street Transit Center, 9700 N.E. Seventh Ave., Hazel Dell (between 94th and 99th streets)

• Pioneer Elementary/Frontier Middle Schools, 7600 N.E. 166th Ave., Vancouver (parking lot between the two schools)

• Shahala Middle School, 601 S.E. 192nd Ave., Vancouver (near flagpole)

• Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 3000 N.W. 119th St., Felida (parking lot)

• Vancouver Mall parking lot, southeast of Macy’s near the C-Tran Vine Station

• WSU Vancouver, 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Road, Salmon Creek (WSU Entrance Road entering from Northeast Salmon Creek Avenue, turn right at the first street into the south parking lot)

• Amboy Middle School, 22115 N.E. Chelatchie Road (west parking lot)

• Battle Ground City Hall parking lot, 109 S.W. First St.

• Hockinson Middle School (old school), 15916 N.E. 182nd Ave., Brush Prairie (parking lot)

• The Heights Learning Center, 4600 N.E. Garfield St., Camas (south parking lot)

• Camas Post Office, 440 N.E. Fifth Ave.

• La Center, 1001 E. Fourth St. (west end of parking lot)

• Ridgefield, Pioneer Street exit, east of Interstate 5, at the end of North First Circle, in the middle of the cul-de-sac

• Ridgefield School District Administrative Office, 510 Pioneer St. (walk-up only)

• Washougal Community Library, 1661 C St. (walk-up only)

• Yacolt Primary School, 507 W. Yacolt Road (south parking lot)

In a press release announcing the new locations, Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey emphasized that he still has confidence in the U.S. Postal Service’s ability to handle the volume of mailed-in ballots despite nationwide cuts to the agency.

The expanded number of drop sites, Kimsey said, just “provide more options for voters to deliver their ballots.”

“We are confident the U.S. Postal Service will continue to provide very good service for Clark County voters for this year’s general election,” Kimsey said. “We encourage voters to deliver their ballot via the U.S. Postal Service using the prepaid postage or to one of the official ballot drop boxes.”

He added that public concern over cuts to the U.S. Postal Service have led some people to offer to collect and deliver ballots for neighbors and friends. Kimsey said he’d “strongly discourage” anyone from giving their ballot to someone they don’t personally know and trust for delivery.

Clark County Elections Supervisor Cathie Garber told The Columbian last week that she’s anticipating 90 percent voter turnout in November, based on the high volume of voters who participated in the primary election. That prediction, if accurate, would mark a historic voter turnout for Clark County.

Registered voters should expect to see a ballot in their mailbox by Oct. 21. Anyone who doesn’t receive their ballot by then should contact the Elections Office as soon as possible at 564-397-2345 or Elections@clark.wa.gov.

Garber said that acting quickly to replace a lost ballot means that a voter will have more options; they can order a new ballot by mail, print a replacement online or visit the elections office in person to vote. As Election Day approaches, options dwindle.

“If you don’t get it, call us early,” Garber said.

Those who vote before Election Day can track their ballot’s status online at Vote.WA.org.

For anyone who still needs to register to vote, they can do so online, by mail or in-person at the Elections Office — located at 1408 Franklin St., Vancouver — up until Oct. 26. After Oct. 26, voters may register in-person up until and including Election Day. For more information and instructions on how to register to vote, visit clark.wa.gov/elections/voter-registration.