Pierce County Mails Ballots Friday For August 2021 Primary

TACOMA, WA — Election season is officially underway for Pierce County. Friday, election officials will begin mailing ballots to all 566,000 registered Pierce County voters ahead of the upcoming August primary election.

The county's 46 drop boxes will also open Friday, and will remain open through 8 p.m. on Election Day, August 3 — though voters are encouraged to vote early to ensure their voice is heard.

This primary Pierce County voters will be asked to weigh in on dozens of high-profile elections, including mayoral races in Tacoma, Eatonville, Buckley, and Bonney Lake. Nearly a dozen cities from Puyallup to Lakewood are holding city council elections, and six school districts — Puyallup, University Place, Dieringer, Clover Park, Peninsula, Bethel, and Eatonville — will have candidates on the ballot.

Voters will also have to consider four propositions, including two levies to support Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 16 and East Pierce Fire and Rescue.

If there is a race you've been following that doesn't appear on the ballot, don't worry, says the Pierce County Auditor's Office. Races with just one or two candidates head straight to the general election in November.

Here are three important dates to keep in mind this month, leading up to Election Day, Aug. 3:

• July 16, 2021: Pierce County Elections begins mailing ballots to all registered voters, and the Pierce County Election Center opens in Tacoma.
• July 26, 2021: Last day to register or modify voter registration online or by mail.
• July 31, 2021: Pierce County Election Center opens Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is the only time the center will open over a weekend.

Voters who still need to register and miss the July 26 deadline still have the option to register in person all the way until polls close at 8 p.m. on Aug. 3. All ballots must be postmarked by that date, and drop boxes close at the same time.

Here are a few helpful links to make sure your voice is heard:

• Find your nearest dropbox.
• Register to vote in Pierce County.
• Check your voter registration to see if it is up-to-date.
• Learn more about candidates and ballot propositions.
• Read the State and Local Voters’ Pamphlet