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Get your ballot in as soon as possible, elections officials advise

Friday, October 31, 2008 11:33 PM PDT

By Andre Stepankowsky

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More than half of Cowlitz County’s registered voters had returned Nov. 4 general election ballots by Friday, meaning that elections officials likely will be hit by a crush of ballots early next week.

As of Friday afternoon, 28,316 ballots had been returned to the Cowlitz County Elections office. That’s 52 percent of the 54,747 ballots mailed to all registered voters Oct. 17.

County Auditor Kris Swanson has predicted an 82.5 percent turnout for the election, in line with Secretary of State Sam Reed’s forecast for an 83 percent statewide turnout.

“Our heaviest returns will be Monday and Tuesday. With 52 percent already in, I think we’re on track to hit 80 percent,” County Elections Supervisor Carolyn Myers said Friday.

Local turnout is ahead of the statewide turnout. As of Friday, about 43 percent of registered Washington voters had returned ballots.

The average statewide turnout since 1936 is78.85 percent, and the record is 84.5 percent in 1944, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

Besides casting votes in the presidential and gubernatorial races, Washington voters will decide a host of initiatives and county races.

In Oregon, voters have to settle a hot race for U.S. Senate between incumbent Republican Gordon Smith and Democratic challenger Jeff Merkley, and Columbia County voters will decide local races and a ballot measure that would penalize businesses that knowingly hire illegal aliens.

Swanson Friday encouraged Cowlitz voters to submit ballots as soon as possible “to avoid the last-minute rush.”

In Washington, ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday’s date — Nov. 4 — to count. By contrast, in Oregon ballots must reach elections offices by Tuesday to be valid. A postmark does not count in the Beaver State.

Any Oregon voter who has not mailed a ballot by Saturday should return ballots in one of the drop boxes around Columbia County, as there is no assurance mail delivery will get their vote to elections officials by Tuesday’s deadline.

Here are the ballot drop box locations in Cowlitz and Columbia counties:

Cowlitz County

• Longview Civic Center Circle, near the Post Office boxes

• Broadway, driving west toward the Civic Circle

• Kelso, near the Post Office boxes

• Woodland, on Davidson and Second Street in the city parking lot near the Utility Payment Drop box

• Castle Rock, Cowlitz Street and First Avenue SW near Hattie’s

• Kalama, near the Post Office boxes.

In addition to mailing ballots, Cowlitz voters can also bring ballots to the Elections Department located in the County Administration Building, 207 North Fourth Avenue, Room 107, in Kelso.

Columbia County

Ballots may be dropped off by 8 p.m. Tuesday at drop box locations throughout the county.

• Rainier City Hall , 06 B St. West

• Clatskanie Library, 11 Lillich St.

• Scappoose City Hall, 33568 E. Columbia Ave.

• Vernonia Library, 701 Weed Ave.

• Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire District, 12525 Highway 202

• Columbia County Courthouse, box located in lower parking lot

Find more election coverage, including polls, photo galleries and links to discussion boards, at our ELECTIONS 2008 section.

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herenkelso wrote on Oct 31, 2008 11:48 PM:

" I want to wait until the last minute. New facts about character are constantly being outed and I want to make an informed decision. "

pangborn wrote on Nov 1, 2008 12:14 AM:

" The last minute approaches. Vote now.

Mr. and Mrs. us voted last week.
Wec are glad to say we voted for the Irish guy. "

msfans wrote on Nov 1, 2008 12:23 AM:

" RE: herenkelso,
You obviously have a computer so if you are waiting for the media to tell you something new on the candidates that you haven't heard or can't find by doing your own research that is going to sway your vote there is something wrong. I do not mean this to be nasty in any way but at this point you should have all the information needed to make an informed decision. With this wonderful tool(the internet)there is not a thing I do not know about either candidate. Good luck with your vote and let me say this to everyone, If you DO NOT TAKE THE TIME TO VOTE THEN YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE OUTCOME EITHER WAY. Just remember please do your research and make an educated vote whether it be national, state or local commumity based. Good luck to us all. "

herenkelso wrote on Nov 1, 2008 1:47 AM:

" We don't due the research. We sit back and wait for sound bites and then with partial information we race to turn our vote in early? Immigration is a huge issue for me. I would have been pissed if I would have voted for Obama before I found out he has an illegal immigrant for a close relative. (Did you know this before the media?) Most of this stuff seems to "leak" out right before the vote. Now 'msfans' I don't know Obama's family personally. It would have been a little difficult for me to have known that information last thursday. But having that information makes a difference on how I will vote. If something new about McCains character comes up I may change my mind again. I wait because I DO like to be as informed as possible. The last few elections I feel like I vote for the lesser of 2 evils anyway. Personally, I feel that people who's minds can't be changed as the facts change aren't really voting for what they believe in, just the picture presented. "

dogshead wrote on Nov 1, 2008 3:39 AM:

" Great advice msfans. Anything 'coming out' this late is rubbish. "

worriedone wrote on Nov 1, 2008 4:27 AM:

" After 2 yrs of the opportunity to do our own research on both candidates, we have already cast our vote. I don't think I could have taken anymore mud slinging. Especially when more than 3/4 of it could be debunked, just by doing your own research. Personally, (and this is MY OWN OPINION) I feel most hold outs are just SCARED to have a man of a different color in the White House. DON'T MISS THE BOAT, GET OUT AND CAST YOUR VOTE!!!! "

valley thorn wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:22 AM:

" I don't know if there are others who have not rec'd their ballots via P.O. Boxes, but we have not. We called and were informed that there was a problem with people not getting their ballots. They sent them to our street address and forgot to enclose the ballots!!! Called again on Wednesday and as of Friday (yesterday) still have not rec'd them. What is with this county? Is anyone else having this problem? "

Aconserve wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:46 AM:

" Re herenkelso: Barack has too many skeletons in his closet that are coming out b the day and I can see what you mean, but I have seen enough to make my decision. Barack had to "rush" to Hawaii to his ailing grandmothers bedside, but why didn't his wife and kids go to bid farewell?? Then it so happens while he was there, te Hawaii govener froze all records. It just so happens that he claims he was born there and still has not supported it with proof. When John McCain was questioned about himself being a natural born citizen, he provided his birth certificate immediately and the question was answered just that simple. Now it's found out Barack's aunt from Kenya is living illegaly in Bosten. Just another skeleton. His tax plan is if you make less than $250,000 you'll see a tax break.... it keeps coming down eery time I hear him speak about it, it's been as low as $120,000. How about his religon?? Black Liberation Theology is very radical, look it up. It is not Christian like he says he is. If he makes it in congress will keep him on a short leash but he';; appoint 2 Supreme Court Justices, that could really hurt America. Good luck to America. "

pangborn wrote on Nov 1, 2008 9:56 AM:

" If ones listens to sound bites from the Old John camp they shouldn't vote. Only come lies from the Old John camp.

If you haven't made up your mind six months ago you must be republican. "

slowburn wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:01 AM:

" Obama's birth certificate: www.fightthesmears.com/articles/5/birthcertificate Read more about it at www.factcheck.org "

dogshead wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:24 AM:

" Aconserve-What DO you read? Black Liberation Theology is Christian, just not your flavor perhaps. It is concerned with the sufferings of the weakest members of society. It's kind of a Jesus thing. "

who am I? wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:43 AM:

" I have not voted yet (I plan to make my final decision this weekend) My not voting yet has NOTHING to do with the color of skin.

If you are saying that only people voting for McCain are doing so because of Obama's skin color that's ridiculous. I'm sure there ARE those that vote (for and against) based on skin color but not everyone who goes against him is doing so for racial reasons. "

DUH wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:46 AM:

" Funny how some of you can take things out of context, twist it, and make it more than what it is. But hey, you've had wonderful teachers these pats few months in McCain/Palin. Barak Obama hasn't seen her in four years. Was not aware that she was here illegaly, and has said that appropriate laws should be followed in regards to her deportation. If you're going to throw something out, be sure to give the whole story. "

cheney119 wrote on Nov 1, 2008 11:18 AM:

" Immigration? If you knew jack about immigration you'd know that McCain and Obama's position on immigration are identical, that's why nobody discusses this issue, it just makes ignorant people angry. As for Obama's great aunt immigration status, if that influences your vote then you weren't much of a supporter of his were you? Obama will have due with one less vote in his 18 point victory in Washington. "

Aconserve wrote on Nov 1, 2008 11:33 AM:

" re; slowburn... I took a look at the birth cert. on this page that you directed me to, thank you. Now there are problems with it though. Where is the seal, the signature of the commissioner of health?? Thats on every Certificate of birth. If it's a copy then it has to be certified by notary public, there's no sign of that. Another small detailed but often overlooked is the one they show on factcheck is folded and has been creased. The one shown on fight the smears has no crease lines visable, you can just iron those out, they're always visable. You can take the image from Obama's site of the Cert. and put it into Hex Editor a program used to get info on the actual image document. It sates that the image was alterred with Adobe Photoshop CS3 on 6-12-2008 at 8:42 am. This is clearly stated. I could have made that birth certificate. "

sleepless wrote on Nov 1, 2008 12:05 PM:

" with failing economy and 2 wars and all the problems in the world and all you are concerned about is Obama's birth certificate?.. you people are pathetic.... "

pangborn wrote on Nov 1, 2008 1:08 PM:

" More republican smears.

Pay no heed to the lies.

Obamas aunt? Who cares?

There is much more important things to tend to.

War, economy, health and taxes are the things Old John and Cariboo Barbi want to ddistrtact you from because they only slur, spin you away from those issues.


There are no undecided only those who can't figure out their ballots or were not going to vote in the first place. "

turkeyhunterman wrote on Nov 1, 2008 1:13 PM:

" Sleepless, you need to take a nap now. If we aren't going to worry about the law and the need to be a U.S. citizen to run for president then lets get Arnold running for prez!!! "

herenkelso wrote on Nov 1, 2008 1:26 PM:

" Why is it pathetic to want to know the person in charge is an American citizen? I have read 3 different versions about where he was born at and now I read he was in an Indonesian public school system as Barry Soetoro (his stepfather's surname). You had to have been a citizen to attend school in that country at that time. So in that case a naturalized citizen can't be president. I don't know that this is true, but as an American I have the right to question anything I damn well want to! "

Louie wrote on Nov 1, 2008 2:06 PM:

" If you haven't decided by now with the saturation of media coverage then maybe you shouldn't vote. Look at and evaluate the candidates by what they are saying and how they are saying it. Sound bites are just that and don't put too much into them. I would think by watching and listening to the candidates you should be able to pick the one whose presentations of how he would handle issues this country faces, the war, the economy, education, health care and taxes, just to mention a few you certainly should have an idea if you favor that person or not. Good grief this has been going on for nearly two years. Vote now and help us with a decision on election day rather that waiting weeks and weeks for the results. "

citizen pote wrote on Nov 1, 2008 2:29 PM:

" Today we learned Obama has family here illegaly for the last 4 years. He claims he didn't know. Then election officials urge us to get ballots in early. Seems they just want to secure thier Liberal strangle hold on us before the lid is blown off Obama and the liberal agenda. "

funnyone wrote on Nov 1, 2008 3:12 PM:

" 'Twas the night before elections
And all through the town
Tempers were flaring
Emotions all up and down!

I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap
Had cut off the TV
Tired of political crap.

When all of a sudden
There arose such a noise
I peered out of my window
Saw Obama and his boys

They had come for my wallet
They wanted my pay
To give to the others
Who had not worked a day!

He snatched up my money
And quick as a wink
Jumped back on his bandwagon
As I gagged from the stink

He then rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!

' On Fannie, on Freddie,
On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, On Pelosi'
He screamed at the pairs!

They took off for his cause
And as he flew out of sight
I heard him laugh at the nation
Who wouldn't stand up and fight!

So I leave you to think
On this one final note-
IF YOU DONT WANT SOCIALISM
GET OUT AND VOTE!!!! "

herenkelso wrote on Nov 1, 2008 6:01 PM:

" "funnyone" That is creative. If you don't mind, I'd like to pass that around. :) we definitely need the humor. "

louie wrote on Nov 1, 2008 6:31 PM:

" funnyone...that is very clever. The trouble is you are voting for the wrong party. Allegations are coming in fast and furious from the Republicans because they are losing. There is always more to the story when you hear the lies that spew out of their mouths.
They should have their mouths washed out with soap for calling Obama a terrorist.
I also would like to point out the Democrats have not hopped on the bandwagon over Cindy McCains drug habit and stealing drugs from children to support that habit. They have more class than that. "

Aconserve wrote on Nov 1, 2008 7:52 PM:

" Thank God allegations are coming from us Republicans, they sure as heck won't be shown by the Dems. Who says the Republicans are losing?? Oh... the liberal media that is banking on the Bradley effect... or is it the "polls". I think you have more of a fight then you think. I bet they hope the $850,000 that the Barack Hussein Obama's camp gave Acorn will be money well spent. "

JustMyOpinion wrote on Nov 1, 2008 9:25 PM:

" Was wondering if anyone can tell me why it is so important to vote. Isn't it true that presidents win by electorial votes - not by popular vote? "

Im_not_saying wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:05 PM:

" The whole hoopla about Obama's Birth certificate has been WAY overblown - As far as the limerick goes here's the original - " Twas november 3rd, and my heart was aglow. Signs of change from the polling was shown. When out from my deck I heard a dark scream, Saw McCain, Palin and Lieberman cut a hole in my screen.

They had come for my freedom
They wanted my guns
They came weaking jackboots
and they laughed at their fun!

They revised the patriot act,
And burned the constitution,
I started to scream
When I was choked with pollution!

they then started to giggle
As the Jolly old dude
screamed again at his wife,
he was being quite rude!

' On Joe, on Adolph,
On Lieberman and Keating!
On W, On Cheney'
Lets get on with the cheating!

They left my poor house in such disarray
With oily footprints and corruption abound
They had even made off
With my poor basset hound!

Then They all drove away
In a gas guzzling SUV
When McCain screamed over his beer-
To heck with you all, we jsut stole four more years! "

Old Charlie wrote on Nov 1, 2008 11:09 PM:

" In just a few days, we will see if the ghetto mentality has overtaken the majority of our citizens, where each would sell their soul for nickel, or will we see a majority that rolls up their sleeves and says I am going to be responsible for myself and come to the aid of my country. "

louie wrote on Nov 2, 2008 10:51 AM:

" The number of electoral votes a candidate gets depends on the majority vote in each state. That is why they call Nebraska, for example, a red state which means the majority normally vote for the Republican and Washington State is considered a blue state because the majority usually vote for the Democratic candidate. You can get the majority of votes in the entire United States and still lose the election depending on the electoral votes a particular state has. It is confusing and I am not so sure it if really the best way. I think the majority of votes for a particular candidate really should be the deciding factor but then I don't know all the pros and cons of the electoral college either. "

An observer wrote on Nov 2, 2008 11:59 AM:

" Just my opinion: Your are voting for electorial votes when it concerns the President. The electorial college was created to act as a check for improper decision by voters. Hopefully, they will never need do this. However, I do believe that each states electorial vote should be by precentage of votes recieved, rather then the all or nothing technique currently used. For example; if a state has 10 electorial votes and party "A" wins the state 60% to "B's" 40%, "A" would recieve 6 electorial votes B 4. As things are "A" will recieve 10! "

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