Vancouver, WA - County Auditor Greg Kimsey announced today ballots for the May 24, 2016 presidential primary will be mailed May 6 to the 259,240 registered voters of Clark County.

While every registered voter will receive a presidential primary ballot, the voter must sign a political party declaration on the ballot return envelope to participate. For a vote to count, the signed party declaration must match the voted candidate’s political party. Democratic and Republican ballots will appear on a single consolidated ballot. You may vote for only one candidate on the entire consolidated ballot page.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will appear on the Democratic ballot for the state’s presidential primary, while Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, John Kasich and Donald Trump will be on the Republican ballot. Carson, Kasich and Cruz are on the Republican ballot because they suspended their campaigns after March 18, which is the deadline for candidates to remove themselves from the state’s presidential primary.

Every ballot packet includes seven easy steps for making sure votes cast in this election are counted. It is important that voters follow these instructions.

“We want every vote to count. If you choose to participate in the presidential primary, you must mark one of the political party declaration boxes and vote for one candidate from the political party you marked," Kimsey stated. "Make sure to sign your ballot envelope.”

While voters have an opportunity to make their voices heard, each political party retains the authority to use or not use the presidential primary results when determining which candidate it will support at its respective convention. The Republican Party has announced it will use the presidential primary results to allocate all convention delegates. The Democratic Party will not use the primary election results to allocate its delegates, but will rely on results of precinct caucuses held March 26.

Ballots must be postmarked by May 24 or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. Election Day. Ballot drop off options are:

• Three 24-hour, drive-up ballot drop boxes open May 6 through 8 p.m. on Election Day
• 32 staffed sites open Election Day only from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Elections Office at 1408 Franklin St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday  and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day

For a complete list of drop site locations, review the instruction sheet included in the ballot packet.

If you do not receive a mail ballot by Friday, May 13, contact the Elections Office at (360) 397-2345 and request a replacement ballot. Replacement ballots can be requested in person at 1408 Franklin St., 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A voter also may request a replacement ballot by email or mail. Our email address is elections@clark.wa.gov and our mailing address is Clark County Elections Office, PO Box 8815, Vancouver, WA 98666.

If you are not currently registered to vote in Washington, you have until 5 p.m. Monday, May 16, to register. Visit the Clark County Elections Office to register in person.

The process of entering the scanned ballot information into the ballot tabulation system will begin at 6 p.m. Election Day, Tuesday, May 24. Election results will not be released until after 8 p.m. Election Day. Results will be available on the Election’s website at clarkvotes.org at approximately 8:15 p.m. 

A sample ballot for this election is available at this website. 

CONTACT
Cathie Garber
Elections Director
Elections Department
(360) 397-2345
elections@clark.wa.gov