Linda Wirta looks over a ballot for mistakes and write-ins on Monday afternoon at the Historic Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis.
Judy Pemerl, left, Marjorie Hatfield, center-left, Lois Gueck, center, Lynn McCord, center-right, and Maureen Baker work at counting ballots in the 2014 General Election that have been dropped off at the Historic Lewis County Courthouse on Monday afternoon.
Lynn McCord, of Chehalis, counts through a local precinct's ballot envelopes on Monday afternoon at the Historic Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis.
Completed ballots sit in a bin at the Historic Lewis County Courthouse on Monday afternoon in Chehalis.
Last-minute ballots continue to make their way in to the Lewis County Auditor’s Office with just hours to go before polls close, but the projected voter turnout may prove to be a little optimistic compared to the numbers reported so far.
As of Monday afternoon, Lewis County elections officials reported a 38 percent voter turnout. That’s up from 26 percent last Wednesday but still well below a predicted 68 percent figure.
The county sent out ballots to more than 43,700 registered voters around Lewis County, and as of Monday about 16,600 have turned them in. But elections specialist Heather Boyer said the number of ballots coming in are increasing as 8 p.m. Tuesday rolls around.
“We’re getting more than normal,” Boyer said. “Usually the day before the election and Election Day, we get a lot of people.”
If you haven’t turned in your ballot yet, 8 p.m. is the deadline to do so. Ballots must be postmarked by close of business today, and two drop boxes will remain open. They’re located at the Lewis County Courthouse, 351 NW North St. and the Twin Cities Senior Center, 2545 N. National Ave.
Both those boxes are open until 8 p.m.
The deadline to register to vote has passed, although Boyer said some people have still called the Elections Department asking if they could still do so.
Election results are due a few minutes after 8 p.m., as volunteers who are canvassing the ballots are working each day to check signatures and process the ballots, Boyer said.
Four contested county races — commissioner district 3, assessor, auditor and sheriff — are on the ballot this year, in addition to two state initiatives, two state advisory votes, state office and judicial positions and several initiatives in their respective Lewis County communities.
Anyone with questions about the ballots or needing help can call the Lewis County Auditor’s Office Elections Division at 740-1278 or 740-1164. The office is also open special hours today, with staff working from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
