More inactive than new voters in San Juan County

San Juan County's list of 'inactive voters' tops 1,000

As of Monday, Oct. 6, more than 1,000 local voters had been listed as “inactive” and might not receive a ballot for the upcoming November election.

San Juan County Election Supervisor Doris Schaller said the list of inactive voters totaled 1,194 people as of late Monday afternoon, down from the 1,234 listed as inactive earlier this year. Schaller said that address changes and moving out of the county, or the state are, in general, leading reasons for voters to be listed as inactive.

Roughly 12,035 people were registered to vote in San Juan County in the 2004 gubernatorial election. Schaller said the number of registered voters remains fluid and that the department continues to receive new voter registrations.

“The numbers are constantly changing,” she said.

The last day to change voter registration for Washington state residents was Oct. 4. New state residents may register in person at the county elections office no later than 15 days before the Nov. 4 election. Voters listed as inactive have until election day to contact the Elections department in order to receive a ballot.

As of Oct.7, some 792 new voters have registered in the county; this does not include the surge of last-minute registrations on Saturday, Oct. 4 and those still being processed, nor does it reflect movement of some voters to or from the inactive rolls. 281,142 new voters have registered statewide.

For information, call 378-3357, or visit the Elections Department page at www.sanjuanco.com.