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The 2024 election is down to its final week, and voter turnout locally is among the highest in the state — although the county is tracking well behind its frantic pace from four years prior.

As of this Monday, Oct. 28, 40.5% of all registered voters in Pacific County had returned their ballot to the county auditor’s office ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.

That figure ranks sixth out of Washington’s 39 counties and is ahead of the 29.5% statewide turnout rate, but is far behind the 59.8% of ballots that had been returned in the county eight days out from the 2020 election. Turnout in the county that year ended up eclipsing 85%, which figures to be a taller task this time around.

Official ballot drop boxes located throughout the county have 24-hour accessibility. On the peninsula, drop boxes are located at the county annex building at 7013 Sandridge Rd. and at the Ocean Park Senior Center at 21603 O Lane. The drop box in Chinook is located at the community center at 810 Highway 101, and at the Washington State Patrol office at 797 State Route 4 in Naselle.

Ballots can also be returned by mail. The ballots come with prepaid postage, meaning no stamp is necessary. Ballots need to be postmarked on or before the day of the election, Nov. 5. To view the status of your ballot, visit voter.votewa.gov.

Accessible voting equipment is available at the Pacific County Auditor’s Office in South Bend from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. up until next Monday, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. The office is closed from 12-1 p.m. for lunch. People who need assistance to vote, or those who have questions or concerns about the ballot process, can contact the auditor’s office at 360-642-9317.

The last day for in-person registration is Election Day, Nov. 5. To register to vote in-person, visit the county auditor’s office in South Bend.

The Observer will have online coverage of the initial election results next Tuesday evening at chinookobserver.com.