Wenatchee

Final week to cast your ballots

About a third of North Central Washington registered voters have mailed in their ballots for this year’s general election. All ballots must mailed or dropped off at election drop boxes by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Election Day.

Returns are coming in at a fairly typical rate for a presidential election year when voter participation is always higher, said Nissa Burger, Chelan County elections director. State election officials expect close to 80 percent voter participation in this year’s election, which includes contentious issues such as gay marriage and marijuana legalization as well as a close presidential race.

Here how county returns look as of Tuesday:

Chelan County, about 13,400 ballots — 33 percent.

Douglas County, 6,771 ballots — 35 percent.

Grant County, 13,068 ballots — 36 percent.

Okanogan County, 7,004 ballots — about 32 percent.

Drop boxes are located at most city halls and county courthouses. Mailed ballots must be postmarked Tuesday or earlier. County courthouses also have voting machines available during business hours and until 8 p.m. Tuesday.

— Rick Steigmeyer, World staff