黑料福利社

Ballots for the 2026 primary election will be mailed to voters next week in Yakima County. Election day is Aug. 4.听

One of the most watched races will be who will replace U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside.听There will also be a swath of county-level positions on the ballot, including races for sheriff, auditor, prosecutor and a commissioner seat.听

Ballots must be dropped off or postmarked by 8 p.m. on Aug. 4.听

"The Yakima County Auditor's Office strongly recommends using a red official drop box to ensure ballots are received in time to count," Auditor Charles Ross said.听聽

Ross also recommends putting your phone number on your ballot so election staff may contact you if any issues arise. The phone number does not end up in the public record or shared, Ross said.听

Washington residents can register to vote online up to July 27, which is eight days before an election using a current state driver's license or permit, state ID card or the last four digits of a Social Security number at .听

Closer to Election Day, all registrations must be done at the Yakima County Courthouse at聽128 N. Second St. in Yakima. Alternatively, in Sunnyside, there is an official voting station that will be set up on Aug. 4 and on the day of the general election from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is at Sunnyside Neighborhood Health at 617 Scoon Road. People in the Lower Valley can drop off ballots and register to vote there.听

Here is some common questions, answered by the Yakima County Auditor's Office and the Secretary of State.听

Am I eligible to register to vote in Washington state?

To register to vote in Washington state, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Washington state, and at least 18 years old.听

Any Washington state voter can check their registration status online at Washington Secretary of State鈥檚 official website,聽.

A state resident currently incarcerated for a felony conviction does not have the right to vote, but the resident鈥檚 right to vote will be restored automatically when the prison term is complete. A person serving a jail sentence for a non-felony may still vote.

How can I register to vote or update my registration?

You can register to vote online at up until July 27, which is eight days before election day. After that date, people need to register in person.

You will need a current Washington state driver's license, permit or ID card. If you do not have a Washington driver license, permit, or ID, you may use the last four digits of your Social Security number.听

Voters may update their address, change their name, update their signature and cancel their registration at .

In-person registration can be done up to and including Election Day at the auditor's office at the Yakima County Courthouse, at 128 N. Second Street, Room 117 in Yakima. A ballot can be received and cast at the elections office up until voting ends on Election Day. Spanish-speaking staff are available for assistance.

Some groups have in-person voter registration drives, such as the League of Women Voters, political campaigns, nonprofit and religious groups.

The Washington Department of Licensing also registers residents to vote.

What can I do if I am not yet 18 years old?

Teenagers who are 16 or 17 years old may sign up as a Future Voter which will automatically register them when they turn 18 years old. If the voter is 17 at the time of the primary election and will be 18 during the general election, they are allowed to vote in the primary.

What if I just moved to Yakima County, and was registered elsewhere?

Take the same steps to register here as listed above, and then contact the auditor or elections office where you were previously registered by phone or email and let them know you have moved and no longer wish to be registered there.

It is not illegal to be registered to vote in more than one place, but it is illegal to vote more than once in the same election.听

You may cancel your registration on .

What if I live overseas or in the military?

If you are voting overseas or in the military, a ballot can be still be counted past Election Day, so long as the voter registered in time. A ballot can be requested 30 days before an election, up until Election Day.

You can register as a military or overseas voter at the Yakima County Auditor's Office or at . The last address used in Washington state or that of a family member must be given during registration.

Ballots for military members went out last month and some ballots have already been received, Ross said.听

What's on the primary ballot?

Top races include those for Congress, Legislature, and county-level positions.

The top two candidates in the primary advance to the November general election, regardless of party.

Regional races

鈥⒙犅�4th District U.S. House representative

鈥⒙犅�14th District state House representative Position聽1聽and 2

鈥⒙犅�15th District state senator

鈥⒙犅�15th District state House representative Position 1 and 2

Yakima County offices聽

鈥⒙� Assessor聽

鈥⒙� Auditor

鈥⒙� Clerk

鈥⒙� Coroner

鈥⒙� Prosecutor聽

鈥⒙� Sheriff

鈥⒙� Treasurer

鈥⒙� Commissioner, District 1

Judicial nonpartisan offices

鈥⒙� State Supreme Court Justice, Position 1, 3, 5 and 7

Special issue

鈥⒙� Fire Protection District No. 6 (Gleed area): property tax levy

Precinct committee officers

Some voters will also have precinct committee officer positions on their ballot.听

Precinct committee officers serve as the link between the neighbors in their area and their political party at the county, legislative district and state level. They can organize canvassing and phone banking activities, vote for party leadership and bylaws, and be involved in the function of political parties at the local and state level. They can also recommend finalists to fill vacancies in county elected office.

Your primary ballot will automatically list the candidates if your precinct and party have a contested race. If your precinct had one candidate, that person was automatically elected. If there is a vacancy in your precinct, an officer may be appointed to it.

You can find your precinct by visiting Yakima County’s interactive map at . For more information, you can contact the by emailing yakimacountydems@gmail.com and the by emailing office@yakimacountyrepublicans.org. 

Elections

What are these precinct committee officer positions on my WA ballot?

• QUESTEN INGHRAM 黑料福利社

Where can I get more information about voting?

Get more information at the Washington Secretary of State's official website, .

The county website is . They'll post a sample ballot and voter's guide closer to the election. Voter guides also will be sent by mail.

A voter may also contact the Yakima County Auditor's Office by phone at 509-574-1340 or by email at iVote@co.yakima.wa.us.

See the 黑料福利社's elections center webpage for more coverage.