If all goes as Jefferson County elections official Betty Johnson hopes this week, there are to be three more boxes into which people can drop their ballots for the Aug. 1 primary election.

Johnson was hesitant on Monday to promote the boxes, which are mandated because of a new state law signed by Gov. Jay Inslee that takes effect Sunday, July 23.

“We’ve done everything we can. We jumped on it right away,” said Johnson of the new boxes, which are set to be installed at the Brinnon Community Center, the Quilcene Community Center and the Nordland fire station on Marrowstone Island.

For those in a hurry to cast their ballots – and not waste a stamp – before that Sunday deadline for the installation of the new boxes, Johnson said that there are existing ballot boxes at the Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave., in Port Hadlock; another one behind the Jefferson County Courthouse at 1820 Jefferson St., in Port Townsend, which people can drive up to; and a ballot box inside the Jefferson County Courthouse in the hallway outside the auditor’s office. That box was moved to just outside the office so people don’t feel like they have to stand in line inside the office to drop off a ballot, Johnson said.

The new ballot boxes were not cheap, Johnson noted.

The ballot boxes cost the county $4,253, decals for them cost another $735, and the cost of installing them is $1,473.

“Luckily, we only had to install three,” Johnson said.

As of Monday, July 17, there were 621 ballots returned of the 24,384 ballots mailed July 12. That’s roughly 2.55 percent of the ballots sent out, according to the auditor’s office.

ON THE BALLOT

Jefferson County voters may find three races on their ballot, depending on where they live.

There is a Pos. 1 seat on the Jefferson County Public Hospital District 2 board, better known as Jefferson Healthcare’s board of commissioners, on which Cheri Van Hoover, Bruce J. McComas and Bernie Donanberg are seeking a six-year seat. The race is nonpartisan, and the top two vote-getters move on to the Nov. 7 general election.

There also is a four-year District 5 director seat on the Chimacum School District No. 49 board, for which Jared Shepherd, Wilma J. Hackman and Jack McKay are vying. Only registered voters in the Chimacum district have that race on their ballot. And again, only the top two vote-getters move on to the Nov. 7 general election.

Some Jefferson County voters also will see a race for the Pos. 2 seat on the Clallam County Fire District 3 board, for which Sean Ryan, Robert Porrazzo and Steven Chinn are seeking a six-year short and full term.

REMINDERS

Johnson also offered some friendly reminders about ballots:

• To count, they must be dropped in a ballot box by Tuesday, Aug. 1.

• Voters who choose to mail their ballot should take the ballot to the post office, and if doing so on Aug. 1, ask that the ballot be hand-canceled to ensure it is postmarked Aug. 1 so that it is counted.

• Be sure to sign the envelope.

• Ballot boxes remain open until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Anyone in East Jefferson County who has not received a ballot should call the elections office at 385-9117 to check on their voter registration.