WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Over a third of Whatcom County voters have already voted ahead of next Tuesday’s election.

The Washington Secretary of State’s Elections Division reports that 38% of registered voters returned their ballots as of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

That’s less than the 58% returned by the same time in 2020’s presidential election, though that number is likely inflated from the surge in mail-in ballots due to the pandemic.

So far, 467 ballots have been challenged, which represents less than three-quarters of a percent. Over 75% of ballots have been returned to a drop box, while just under a quarter have been mailed in.

Ballots are due at one of the county’s 23 official drop boxes by 8 pm on Election Day next Tuesday or must be postmarked by Nov. 5.

You can find those drop box locations, along with all the other voting information you need, on the elections tab of our website.