Mail theft in Port Townsend this past week affected a number of the city’s voters, whose ballots for the Feb. 12 special election were found by Port Townsend police. County Election Coordinator Betty Johnson reported streets “in the vicinity of” Cook Street, Cook Avenue, Cook Avenue Extension, Hastings Avenue West and Elm Street “may have had mail stolen,” as ballots were part of the mail retrieved from those areas. Johnson credited the Port Townsend Police Department with notifying Jefferson County Elections on Jan. 29. Ballots were mailed Jan. 23 to voters living in Port Townsend School District No. 50, the city of Port Townsend (for fire district annexation) and East Jefferson Fire Rescue District 1. “Because of when they were mailed, voters should have received them by now locally,” Johnson said. Johnson assured voters that elections personnel check signatures on all returned ballots against the signatures on the voters’ registration records. Johnson and Port Townsend Postmaster Mary Jane Duff said this was the first instance of ballot theft during either of their tenures, and Duff returned the recovered ballots to their intended recipients. “The police bundled them up very nicely for us,” Duff said. “None of the ballots were opened.” Johnson reminded voters they can call 360-385-9119 or visit Jefferson County Elections, in the auditor’s office at the county courthouse, for a replacement ballot if they haven’t received their ballot within five to six days of the ballots’ mailing dates. “To insure their ‘voted’ ballot gets to our office, they can either take it directly to the post office, put it in a designated U.S. Postal Service mail box, a designated ballot drop box, or bring it directly to the elections office during office hours,” Johnson said. “If they put it in their mailbox with the red flag up, they can go to our website and click on My Ballot, and enter their name and date of birth to check on the status of their ballot. It will show as received once we check it in.” Duff offered some tips for safeguarding mail, from collecting it every day — “Never leave it overnight” — to installing a locking mailbox. “You can either purchase an individual box, or partner with your neighbors to collectively purchase a cluster of boxes,” Duff said. “Most of the time, mail theft is just someone looking for quick fix.” For more information about current ballot measures, visit www.co.jefferson.wa.us/elections.