Ballots are being mailed out this week ahead of next month’s general election in which Washington voters will weigh in on contests that decide the direction of our country, state and local communities in the coming years.

Voters in Pacific County may begin receiving ballots in mailboxes for the Nov. 5 election as early as Oct. 17, according to the county auditor’s office, and voters should receive them by Oct. 18, which coincides with the state’s 18-day voting period that lasts through Election Day.

Completed ballots can be returned to official drop boxes anytime until 8 p.m. on Nov. 5 or be returned via mail as long as they are postmarked by election day. The U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing completed ballots back at least a week before Election Day to be included in the initial batch of results reported on the night of the election. Ballot postage is prepaid by the state government.

On the peninsula, 24-hour 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.

The deadline for new online or mail voter registrations, and for transfers or updates to an existing voter registration, is Oct. 28. To register to vote online, go to www.voter.votewa.gov. To register by mail, print a registration form from www.voter.votewa.gov or contact the county auditor’s office at 360-875-9317.

The last day to register to vote in-person is 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. To register in-person, visit the county auditor’s office at 300 Memorial Drive in South Bend.

For more information about the general election, visit co.pacific.wa.us/auditor/elections.htm or call the Pacific County Auditor’s Office at 360-875-9317.

This week’s issue of the Observer includes questionnaires with the two candidates vying for a position on the Pacific County PUD Board of Commissioners. Next week’s Oct. 23 issue will feature the questionnaires of the two candidates vying for the peninsula-based seat on the Pacific County Commission.