The Whatcom County Auditor’s Office was scheduled to mail August primary ballots to registered voters on July 16, and voters should receive their ballots by Tuesday, July 22.
Election Day is Tuesday, August 5. Ballots must be returned to an official ballot drop box before 8 p.m. August 5, or postmarked in the mail by August 5.
This summer’s primary election includes local races as well as a county-wide levy lid lift for the Whatcom County Library System.
Port of Bellingham Commissioner District 2 race will feature incumbent Ken Bell, who has held the position since 2017, being challenged by first-time candidates Carly James, a Bellingham-based small business owner, and Kaylin A. Bosley.
The Blaine City Council Ward 2 Position 4 seat is also up, representing areas west of I-5, north of California Creek and south of Boblett Street. Incumbent and mayor pro tempore Rhyan Lopez will not seek reelection after finishing his four-year position that he started in 2022.
Candidates for the city council seat are Isaac Newland, Steven Tojek and Ray Leone, all three of whom did not list any elected experience on their candidate filing forms. Newland has received endorsements from Blaine mayor Mary Lou Steward, state senator Sharon Shewmake, state representatives Joe Timmons and Alicia Rule and Blaine resident Kamal Bhachu, according to Newland’s candidate filing form.
Whatcom County Council Districts 2 and 3 are up for election, with District 2 councilmember Todd Donovan not seeking reelection, and District 3 incumbent Tyler Byrd seeking another term.
The District 2 race, representing north Bellingham, will feature candidates Elizabeth Boyle, Maya Morales, and Mike Cullum. The District 3 race, representing east Whatcom County, will have Jessica Rienstra, incumbent Tyler Byrd, Kyle Christensen and Daniel Probst. Blaine and Birch Bay residents will not see either positions on their ballots.
Whatcom County Library System (WCLS), which oversees library access everywhere in the county besides Bellingham, is asking voters to pass a levy lid lift to secure funding for operations, maintenance and development.
If passed, the property tax levy rate for WCLS would be set at $0.42 per $1,000 of assessed home value. State law caps property tax increases to one percent annually, meaning the library system is unable to keep up with inflation without voters agreeing to increase the levy rate.
The auditor’s office must receive voter registration and address changes online or by mail by Monday, July 28. In-person registration and address changes can be completed at the auditor’s office, 311 Grand Avenue, suite 103, in Bellingham through Tuesday, August 5.
The August primary is a top-two system, meaning the two candidates with the most votes will advance to the November general election, regardless of party. Additional races with only two candidates will only appear in the November election.
For more information on the upcoming election, contact the elections division of the auditor’s office at elections@co.whatcom.wa.us or call 360/778-5102.
