Voting Instructions

Completing Your Ballot

• Examine the ballot. Locate the candidates for each office and the YES or NO choice for each measure.
• Blacken the oval next to the candidate or response of your choice for each office or measure.
• Use a black or blue pen to cast your ballot.
• If you make a mistake in marking your ballot, place an X over the mismarked oval and fill in the oval of your preferred choice and circle that oval.
• If you damage, or lose your ballot, call the Benton County Elections Office for a replacement ballot.
• To vote for a candidate whose name is not on the ballot, mark the oval next to the blank space provided on the ballot and write in the full name of the candidate (see Write-In Candidates below).
• If you vote for more candidates than allowed, or vote both Yes and No on a measure, it is called an overvote. Overvotes will not be counted.
• You do not have to vote all contests in order to have those you voted for count.

Write-In Candidates

• Do not vote for a candidate listed on the ballot AND a write-in candidate; unless the ballot states that you are allowed to vote for more than one candidate.
• Each district electing officers pays for their portion of the write-in election cost.
• Only write in someone who is qualified and who you believe would be interested in holding that office.
• Do not use nicknames. If the candidate cannot be located in voter registration files, your vote cannot be counted.
• Blackening the oval with a pen or pencil next to the write-in candidate will complete your vote.

Returning the Ballot

• The voters' statement on the back of the ballot envelope must be signed by only the voter whose name is printed on the ballot envelope. Each signature is verified.
• Place only YOUR voted ballot in the signed ballot envelope and seal it.
• Mail or deliver the signed and sealed ballot envelope as soon as possible.
  (A) The ballot must be received at the Elections Office not later than 8:00 PM PST Election day; or
  (B) The ballot must: (i) Have a postal indicator showing that the ballot was mailed not later than the date of the election; and (ii) Be received at the office of the county clerk not later than seven calendar days after the date of the election. (HB 3291 Effective 1/1/2022)