Ballots for the August 4, 2026 primary election arrived in Whatcom County mailboxes on Wednesday, July 15. If you have not yet received yours, it should arrive within the next few days. The Whatcom County Auditor's Office recommends contacting them directly if your ballot has not arrived by July 22.
This primary includes a significant lineup of local and state races that will shape Whatcom County's government for years to come. Voters have until August 4 to return their ballots, either by mail or at one of the county's official drop boxes, which are now open.
What Is on the Ballot
The August 4 primary features races at multiple levels of government. At the federal level, candidates are competing for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the district that includes Whatcom County. At the state level, four seats in the Washington State House of Representatives and one seat in the State Senate appear on this ballot.
Locally, voters will weigh in on one of the most watched races in county history: the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney seat, where four candidates with notably different visions for the office are competing. Voters will also decide on two newly created seats on the Port of Bellingham Commission, Districts 4 and 5. The port board was expanded from three commissioners to five following a voter-approved measure last year, and these new districts are being filled for the first time.
Property tax levies are also on the ballot for several fire districts serving Whatcom County communities. Fire District 1, which covers Everson, Nooksack, Deming, and the Nooksack Indian Tribe, has a levy measure before voters. Fire District 21, which serves Lynden, Blaine, Birch Bay, Custer, Laurel, and Semiahmoo, has a levy on the ballot as well. Glacier Fire and Rescue also appears on this primary ballot with a levy question for voters in that area.
Washington's Top 2 Primary System
Washington State uses what is called a Top 2 Primary. Regardless of party affiliation, the two candidates with the most votes in each race advance to the November general election. This means candidates from the same party can end up facing each other in November if they finish first and second in the primary. Voters do not register by party in Washington, so any voter can mark their choices in any race across party lines.
The primary is the critical filtering stage for several crowded local races. The Port of Bellingham District 4 race, for example, has six candidates competing, meaning four will be eliminated on August 4 before the general election contest begins.
How to Track Your Ballot and Deadlines
Voters can track the status of their ballot, including whether it has been received and accepted by the county, at VoteWA.gov. The state's ballot tracking system is updated as ballots move through processing, giving voters a clear picture of whether their vote has been counted.
The deadline to register to vote or update your registration online or by mail is July 27. After that date, in-person registration is available at the Whatcom County Auditor's Office through Election Day. The auditor's office can be reached by phone at 360-778-5102 or by email at elections@co.whatcom.wa.us for questions about registration, ballot status, or drop box locations.
Completed ballots must be postmarked by August 4 if returned by mail, or dropped in an official county drop box by 8 p.m. on August 4. Drop boxes are positioned across the county; the auditor's office maintains a current list of locations on its website.
For voters who want to review the full candidate list and ballot measures before marking their ballots, the county auditor's website has the complete ballot available online. Candidate responses to voter questions are being published by local media across the county, with detailed profiles of the prosecuting attorney and port commission races giving voters a closer look at who is running and what each candidate stands for. Primary election results will begin posting after 8 p.m. on August 4, with updated counts released over the following days as mail ballots continue to arrive and are processed.
