Tuesday, August 17, is the last day to mail ballots

Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, August 17, 2010 in order to be counted in the primary election.

There are no local drop boxes - they were eliminated as a cost-savings measure.

We have a "Top-Two Primary" - the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of their party affiliation.

The party affiliation on the ballot was chosen by the candidates. Political parties made their endorsements but they are not reflected on the ballot.

Shoreline District Court will be on the general election, not on the primary. Some of the state judicial races will be decided in the primary.

Remember that the 32nd Legislative district is in two counties: King and Snohomish. Each only counts and records their own ballots. A candidate could theoretically "win" in one county and "lose" in the other.

King County Records and Elections will start counting ballots on Tuesday morning and will post the first candidate results  and Lake Forest Park Prop 1 results on their webpage around 8:15 pm. (As of this writing, they have test pages up. Make sure that you are not looking at the "Primary and Special Election Media Report.")

On subsequent days King County will post results at 4:30 pm each day to the end of August. On September 1, the Canvassing Board meets and certifies the election.

The Snohomish County Auditor will start posting election results at 8 pm Tuesday, August 17.

If you did not receive your ballot and called King County for a replacement ballot - you have to vote the replacement ballot, even if you already received and mailed in the late-arriving original ballot. They cancel out the first ballot.