Voter turnout expected to be high in this election; 5,537 have been received of 11,535 mailed out countywide

By noon, the voter turnout was already 50 percent. Most San Juan Island ballots have been received, the county elections office reported at 12:30 p.m. Ballots were expected to be received from Orcas Island later this afternoon, and from Lopez Island on Wednesday.

November 3, 2009 4:07 pm
The Elections Department's A team processes ballots Tuesday in the elections office in Friday Harbor. Almost 50 percent of all ballots had been received in the elections office by noon today.
The Elections Department's A team processes ballots Tuesday in the elections office in Friday Harbor. Almost 50 percent of all ballots had been received in the elections office by noon today.

By noon, the voter turnout was almost 50 percent.

Most San Juan Island ballots have been received, the county elections office reported at 12:30 p.m. Ballots were expected to be received from Orcas Island later this afternoon, and from Lopez Island on Wednesday.

All told, 5,537 have been received of 11,535 mailed out countywide.

Ballots must be deposited at the elections office or in an elections drop box by 8 p.m. today. Ballots being mailed in must be postmarked today, but keep in mind that post offices close at 3 p.m.

Ballot drop boxes are located at the Lopez Island Fire Station, Orcas Senior Center, and in front of the county courthouse on Second Street in Friday Harbor

SanJuanJournal.com will post election stories, including results and the impact of the vote in each race, after the polls close tonight.

Voters are deciding more than 40 local races and three local ballot measures on today’s ballot. Voters in Friday Harbor will elect a new mayor. San Juan Island voters will decide whether to continue to fund San Juan Island Park and Recreation District, with an additional amount to support school sports. Orcas Island voters will decide whether to create their own tax-supported recreation district. Countywide voters will decide whether to increase their property tax to support non-essential, but important, positions and programs (Proposition 1). They will also decide whether to approve or reject a county ordinance banning safe and sane fireworks.

Here are the candidates on the ballot on San Juan Island (for a complete list of candidates on all islands, visit COUNTY ELECTIONS WEB SITE):

Mayor of Friday Harbor
— Robert Low.
— Carrie Lacher.

Friday Harbor Town Council, Position 2
— Noel Monin.

Friday Harbor Town Council, Position 3
— Anna Maria de Freitas.

Friday Harbor Town Council, Position 4
— Felix Menjivar.
— Clinton Mills.

San Juan Island School Board, Position 1
— Brent Snow.

San Juan Island School Board, Position 2
— Deborah Nolan.

San Juan County Fire Protection District No. 3, Position 2
— Bob Jarman.

Friday Harbor Port Commission, Position 3
— Greg Hertel.
— Sharon Kivisto.

San Juan Island Park and Recreation District, Position 2
— Jeremy M. Talbott.
— Amy H. Windrope.

San Juan Island Park and Recreation District, Position 3
— Scott Zehner.

San Juan Island Park and Recreation District, Position 5
— Jim Ricks.

San Juan Island Cemetery District No. 1, Position 2
— Steve Dubail.

San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1, Position 3
— Lenore L. Bayuk.

San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1, Position 5
— Michael B. Roger.

Cattle Point Water District, Position 1
— Virgene C. Bornholdt.

Cattle Point Water District, Position 2
— Sandy Ryan.

Cattle Point Water District, Position 3
— Laurie Burns.