Washington's Election Day, which is actually a nearly three-week period, began today as county elections offices around the state began mailing out ballots. Some have so many that the process will continue through Friday to meet the statutory deadline for getting all ballots in the mail.

In Spokane County, elections officials mailed out some 153,000 ballots today, or slightly more than half of the total. Those ballots are going to voters in the 3rd and 4th Legislative Districts, while ballots to the 6th, 7th and 9th districts will be mailed Thursday, Elections Manager Mike McLaughlin said. At 8.7 cents per ballot -- a bulk rate for pre-sorted, non-profit mail -- Wednesday's trip to the post office cost the county $13,277.57

Spokane County has a record number of registered voters, at 280,301.

Ballots typically take a few days to reach a voter's mailbox. Voters who haven't moved from the residence listed in their registration could call the elections office if they haven't received a ballot by next Tuesday, McLaughlin said. Voters who recently moved or are out of town, and having the mail forwarded to another address, should contact the office if they haven't received their ballot by Oct. 25. The number is 509-477-2320.

Ballots must be marked, placed in the signed envelopes and either mailed back to the county elections office or deposited in a drop box by Nov. 6. In Spokane County, drop boxes are located at public libraries as well as the elections office at 1033 W. Gardner and the STA Plaza in downtown Spokane.

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