Today is Election Day, and voters need to get their ballots postmarked today or submit them in a ballot drop box no later than 8 p.m.
According to the Clark County Elections Office, preliminary results will be posted around 8:30 p.m. It will continue to update the results as elections officials tally more ballots.
On Wednesday, elections officials will also perform a manual count of 600 randomly selected ballots to compare them with the machine results. For the purpose of the test, they’ll compare results for the Vancouver mayoral race.
“We’ve been doing it for a number of years now,” Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said. “It’s done in a public session, and it’s just a way to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the process.”
On the eve of Clark County’s 2021 primary election, 46,121 of the county’s eligible voters had submitted their ballots.
That brings early voter turnout up to 15.5 percent ahead of Election Day; it also puts turnout on track to be slightly lower than the 2019 primary, when 18.15 percent of eligible voters had returned ballots by this point. In the last few odd-year primaries, voter turnout has remained low, hovering around 20 to 25 percent.
Kimsey said he doubts turnout this year will hit 25 percent.
For voters looking to submit their ballots via mail, Kimsey said he strongly recommends checking the mail carrier’s pickup time to ensure that they get it in the mail in time. Voters can also submit their ballots at the post office and ask the post office employee to hand-stamp the document to ensure it’s immediately postmarked, he added.
It’s also not too late to register to vote. Clark County residents can register in-person until 8 p.m. today at the Clark County Elections Office, 1408 Franklin St., Vancouver.
Columbian reporters will post election night coverage live on Twitter, using the hashtag #clarkelex.
Each of the local races on the primary ballot is nonpartisan. The top two candidates will advance to the general election.
For races with no candidates, the elections office will hold a special three-day filing period after the primary election. Any potential candidates who meet the qualifications of the office and wish to file for the general election may do so beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday and ending at 5 p.m. Friday.
They can file in-person at the Clark County Elections Office or online at clarkvotes.org.
The 2021 primary includes the following jurisdictions:
- Vancouver
- Washougal
- La Center
- Yacolt
- Camas Ward 1
- Camas Ward 3
- Clark Regional Wastewater District
- Battle Ground Public Schools No. 119
- Evergreen Public Schools No. 114
- Hockinson School District No. 98
- Vancouver Public Schools No. 37
- Fire Protection District No. 5
- Clark County Emergency Medical Service District No. 1
