A historic day

Everything you need to know about today’s election

By Adam Wilson | The Olympian • Published November 04, 2008

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This is it. History on a national scale will be made in the election that ends tonight, when the country chooses either its first black president or its first female vice president.

And there's a neck-and-neck governor's race and the possibility that Washington will become the second state in the nation to legalize physician-assisted suicide by passing Initiative 1000.

Turnout is expected to set new records — but have you voted?

If you are registered to vote, it's not too late to do it.

Turnout so far

There are 148,500 voters registered in Thurston County, 8,500 more than voted in the primary election in August, and 10,500 more than in the 2004 election.

As of Monday morning, 84,149 ballots had been turned in, said Ken Raske, chief deputy auditor. Tonight, his office expects to count as many as 100,000 ballots, with turnout reaching more than 80 percent.

Will the remaining votes be part of the action?

"They need to be in our drop boxes by 8 o'clock, or they need a postal mark … Nov. 4," said Raske.

If you have your ballot but haven't turned it in

You have until 8 p.m. today to leave your ballot at one of the white drop-off boxes scattered around the county. There are maps of drop-off sites available, but you can always go to Thurston County Courthouse, 2000 Lakeridge Drive S.W., in Olympia.

Or you can mail your ballot — but be sure it has postage and it will be picked up and postmarked today. Either bring it to a staffed U.S. Post Office location, or make sure you leave it in a mailbox before the scheduled pickup, which is listed on the box.

Where to go

To see drop box locations, click on the link at www.the olympian.com/election.

There you also will find information about candidates, ballot measures and The Olympian's endorsements.

If you lost your ballot

Come to the county courthouse, Room 152, Building 1. You can receive a replacement ballot until 8 p.m.

If you need help reading or marking your ballot

You can visit any one of seven staffed polling sites with Auto-MARK machines that can read the ballot to you and assist people with disabilities in marking their ballots. There is a machine at the county courthouse.

If you are traveling

If you are registered in a different Washington county, but don't have your ballot, you can cast a provisional ballot. It will be counted when officials confirm where you are registered, and that you have not cast another ballot. You can pick up a provisional ballot at the county courthouse.

If you have not voted since 2004

Remember that Thurston County switched to a vote-by-mail system. If you go to any of the polling sites used in the 2004 election, you'll find a notice sending you to the Thurston County Courthouse. You can cast your ballot or pick up a replacement ballot there.

If you can't remember whether you voted

You can check to see if your ballot has been received on the Thurston County Auditor's Web site. The address is: www.co.thurston.wa.us/auditor

When in doubt

"The best bet is to give our office a call if you have any questions," said Raske.

The number is 360-786-5408, but be advised the phones might be tied up as the 8 p.m. deadline approaches.