Voting season in Washington begins this week as mail-in ballots are distributed.

Approximately 24,000 ballots for residents of Whitman County will be sent out on Tuesday.

In Pullman, there are several contested races in the general election for city council positions. Bryan MacDonald is running against John-Mark Mahnkey for one council seat, while Trevor Vance and DiDi Lubash are competing for another. Additionally, Tawny Szumlas and John Casselman are vying for an open seat on the Pullman City Council.

There are also two contested races for positions on the Pullman School Board, with Deena Bayoumi and Hannah Martian competing for one seat and Stephanie Horn and Brandon Kruger contesting another.

The only countywide election is for the position of county commissioner, where appointed Republican Chad Whetzel is facing fellow Republican Cody Finch.

Voters in Whitman County’s rural communities will also have numerous decisions to make regarding small taxing districts. In Colfax, there is a contested race for the hospital board, and voters will consider a cemetery levy. In Palouse, residents are faced with a contested school board race and levies for city maintenance, the pool, and streets. Rosalia has two contested school board races, a street levy, two town council races, a contested race for the parks and recreation district, and an M&O levy for the parks district. St. John voters will see a contested school board race along with levies for emergency services, streets, water and sewer, the pool, and a new splash pad. Colton has a street levy proposed, while Endicott’s ballot includes levies for the fire department, streets, parks, and a cemetery. Farmington will also have a street levy on the ballot, while Garfield voters will consider levies for streets and the cemetery. LaCrosse will have a contested town council race along with levies for a new ambulance service and the pool. Tekoa will have several decisions to make, including three contested city council races and a street levy. Oakesdale will vote on a parks levy and a cemetery levy.

Mail-in ballots must be returned to the Whitman County Auditor’s Office and postmarked by election day on November 4th. Voters can also drop off their ballots in voting boxes located in Pullman and Colfax until 8:00 PM on election night.

If you have not received your ballot by October 22nd, please contact the elections office in Colfax at 509-397-5284.