When Clark County voters get their ballots for the February special election, 750 voters will find themselves in a new voting precinct. The Clark County Council unanimously approved proposed changes to the 2024 voting precinct boundaries after a public hearing Tuesday.
Elections Director Cathie Garber said the boundaries for 11 precincts are being amended, and three new precincts are being added.
Garber said the elections office reviews and adjusts precinct boundaries each year, as required by state law, but changes must be approved by the council. Each precinct is required to have 1,500 voters or fewer and must lie either completely inside or completely outside of a city’s boundary.
“This year, we have two precincts that are approaching the 1,500 registered voters mark. To reduce these oversized precincts, we are planning to add one precinct by splitting one precinct into two and then adjusting two additional precincts boundaries,” Garber told the council.
The remaining eight precinct adjustments and two new precincts were due to annexations in the cities of Camas, Ridgefield, Vancouver and Washougal, and the town of Yacolt, Garber said.
“Any annexations that might occur after these precinct boundary changes have been approved by the council will have voters moved to the proper jurisdiction temporarily so they may receive the proper ballot,” Garber added.
None of the precinct boundary adjustments will change voters’ legislative districts or county council districts, she said. The changes will also not affect current precinct committee officers. Precinct committee officers for the new precincts will be appointed by their political parties.
Detailed information about precincts affected by the change, as well as the new precinct numbers, can be found at https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2023-11/d112823_Hearing_PrecinctBoundaryChanges.pdf.
The county elections office will be mailing letters to affected voters with information about their new voting precinct and the reasons for the change.
