The August 4, 2026 primary election is days away, and Whatcom County voters who have not yet returned their ballots have multiple drop box locations available across the county. Ballots must be received or postmarked by Election Day, and drop boxes are available around the clock in most locations, making them a convenient option for voters who want to avoid postage or mail delays.

The Whatcom County Auditor's Office maintains a network of drop boxes stretching from Point Roberts in the northwest corner of the county to Maple Falls in the east and Acme to the south. Here is the complete list of current locations, as provided by the Auditor's Office.

Drop Box Locations by Community

Acme: Acme Elementary, 5200 Turkington Road, on the west side of the school parking lot.

Bellingham (multiple locations):

Sudden Valley, 2020 Lake Whatcom Boulevard, at the Sudden Valley Security Turnaround at Gate One. Sehome Haggen, 210 36th Street, in the northeast corner of the parking lot. Western Washington University Wade King Student Recreation Center, 1880 Bill McDonald Parkway, outside the Student Recreation Center on the east side. Western Washington University Red Square, 516 High Street, outside Bond Hall on the east side. Courthouse South Parking Lot, 247 Grand Avenue, enter from Grand Avenue. Whatcom County Auditor's Office, 311 Grand Avenue Suite 103, inside the Auditor's Office at the Election Division counter. Barkley Village, 3055 Woburn Street, between WaFD Bank and Scotty Browns in the northwest corner of the parking lot. Whatcom Community College, 620 West Kellogg Road, outside the Auxiliary Services Building. Lummi Nation Administration Building, 2665 Kwina Road, outside the front entrance.

Blaine: Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street, in the northwest corner of the parking lot.

Birch Bay: 4581 Birch Bay Lynden Road, at the North Whatcom Fire and Rescue parking lot.

Custer: Custer Elementary, 7660 Custer School Road, in the northwest corner of the school.

Deming: Deming Library, 5044 Mount Baker Highway, at the south end of the parking lot.

Everson: Everson WECU, 106 East Main Street, outside the front entrance.

Ferndale: Ferndale Pioneer Pavilion Community Center, 2007 Cherry Street, on the north side of the parking lot.

Lynden (two locations): Lynden Library, 216 4th Street, on Liberty Street between 3rd and 4th Streets. Meridian Laurel Grange, 6172 Guide Meridian, on the south side of the parking lot.

Maple Falls (two locations): Maple Falls Post Office, 7392 Mount Baker Highway, outside the front entrance. North Fork Community Library, 7506 Kendall Road, on the west side of the parking lot.

Point Roberts: Point Roberts Marketplace, 480 Tyee Drive, located inside the store. Contact the store for hours.

Sumas: Sumas Post Office, 534 Railroad Avenue, in the northwest corner of the parking lot behind the post office.

Key Deadlines and Voting Information

August 4 is the primary Election Day for Whatcom County and Washington state. Ballots are mailed to all registered voters in Washington, and no in-person polling places are used. Voters who have not received a ballot or who need to update their registration should contact the Whatcom County Auditor's Elections Division as soon as possible. The online and mail registration deadline for the August 4 primary has passed, but same-day registration is available in person at the Auditor's Office through Election Day.

Drop boxes are generally available 24 hours a day except where noted, such as the Point Roberts Marketplace location which is inside a business with limited hours. If you are using a drop box on Election Day itself, plan to deposit your ballot well before midnight to ensure it is counted.

Voters with questions about their ballot, their registration status, or what races appear on their ballot can call the Whatcom County Auditor's Office at 360-676-6742 or visit the county elections website. A sample ballot for your specific address and precinct is available through the online voter registration portal.

What Is on the Ballot

The August 4 primary includes races for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington's 2nd Congressional District, where incumbent Rick Larsen faces three challengers. State legislative races, county offices, and various special purpose district positions will also appear on Whatcom County ballots depending on precinct. The primary narrows the field to the top two vote-getters in each race, who then advance to the November general election.

Washington's top-two primary system means candidates of all parties compete together in August, and the two with the most votes advance regardless of party affiliation. This occasionally results in two candidates from the same party advancing to November, which has happened in several Whatcom County races in past years.

For a full list of candidates and more on what appears on your specific ballot, the Washington Secretary of State's office maintains a statewide voter guide with candidate statements for all partisan and nonpartisan races. Get your ballot in before Tuesday.