The August 4 primary election is now just days away for Whatcom County voters, and residents who have not yet returned their ballots are running out of time. Tuesday, August 4 is the official Primary Election Day, and using one of the county's 23 official ballot drop boxes is the most direct way to make sure your vote arrives at the Auditor's Office on time.
Washington State conducts elections almost entirely by mail, meaning most Whatcom County voters receive their ballots at home and can return them either by mail or in person at a drop box. With Election Day just days away, mailing a ballot now carries risk of it arriving too late. Drop boxes, however, remain open through 8 p.m. on Election Day and do not depend on postal delivery times.
Where to Find a Drop Box Near You
Whatcom County operates 23 official ballot drop boxes spread across the county, making it possible for voters in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Birch Bay, Sumas, Everson, and other communities to return ballots without driving to the Auditor's Office downtown. A full map and list of drop box locations is available on the Whatcom County Ballot Drop Box Locations page.
Drop boxes are monitored and sealed by the Whatcom County Auditor's Office. Ballots deposited in official drop boxes are collected regularly leading up to Election Day and then again at closing time on August 4. Voters should make sure their ballot envelope is signed on the outside before depositing it, as unsigned ballots cannot be counted and require voters to follow up with the Auditor's office to cure the signature before the deadline.
If you have not yet received your ballot or believe it was lost in the mail, contact the Whatcom County Election Division directly at 360-778-5102 or by email at elections@co.whatcom.wa.us. The office can issue a replacement ballot and ensure you have an opportunity to vote before polls close.
What Is on the August 4 Ballot
Washington's August primary is a top-two primary, meaning the two candidates with the most votes in each contested race advance to the November general election regardless of party. This year's primary includes congressional, legislative, and local races across Whatcom County.
Among the higher-profile contests is the race in Washington's 2nd Congressional District, where incumbent Rep. Rick Larsen faces challengers from across the political spectrum. Several Whatcom County legislative seats and local positions are also on the ballot, along with fire district levy measures that affect property owners in multiple parts of the county.
Voters who want to review their ballot before returning it can check the Whatcom County Government website for sample ballots and candidate information. The Washington Secretary of State's Voters' Guide also provides statements from candidates in statewide and legislative races.
How Washington's Vote-by-Mail System Works
Washington has been a fully vote-by-mail state since 2011, one of the earliest in the nation to make the switch. The system has consistently produced higher voter participation rates than traditional polling-place models, partly because it removes many of the logistical barriers to voting. Whatcom County's Election Division, part of the County Auditor's Office, oversees ballot mailing, collection, and counting.
Ballots postmarked by Election Day and received by the Auditor's Office within a set window after Election Day are also counted, but the postmark method introduces uncertainty. Election experts and the Auditor's Office consistently recommend drop boxes as the safest and most certain method for voters who have not yet returned their ballot as the deadline approaches.
Results from the August 4 primary will begin to be released by the Whatcom County Auditor's Office on Election Night, with additional batches of counted ballots posted in the days that follow as late-arriving mail ballots are processed. Final certified results typically come several weeks after Election Day.
For voters with questions about registration status, ballot tracking, or accessibility accommodations, the Election Division is the best starting point for assistance. You can reach them at 360-778-5102 or visit the Auditor's Office at 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham during business hours.
