There are many in the community who might be surprised to learn there are more people who have yet to vote than those who have.

The county usually collects between 30 and 40 percent of the ballots it sends out and this year is expecting to see a return of about 31 percent. As of Tuesday, one week prior to election day, only 12.1 percent had been received.

“There is sort of a ‘ho-hum’ attitude about the primary races in odd-numbered years,” Suzanne Boltz said.

Boltz, assistant elections manager for Kitsap County, said the turnout so far, or lack thereof, is typical for primary elections, especially those involving more public works and school positions.

“The primary is simply an elimination race,” Boltz said. “Races with three or more candidates are reduced to two. The candidate with the most votes in the primary is first on the general election ballot.”

Last weekend the auditor’s office received about 3,000 ballots and about 1,800 were delivered in Tuesday’s mail, according to Boltz.

While ballots do trickle in each day, the majority seem to come toward the end of the election period, according to Boltz.

“We will see a large number of ballots come in next Monday, the day before election day,” Boltz said. “Many will also come in on the day and even the day after we will get ballots that have been postmarked by election day.”

For those who prefer not to mail their ballot, a 24-hour deposit box is available on the Division Street side of the County Administration Building located on the corner of Division Street and Cline Avenue in Port Orchard.

Ballots also can be turned in 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Kitsap County auditor’s office election division at 619 Division St.

On election day, Aug. 18, ballots can be dropped off between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the Kitsap Regional Library located at 1301 Sylvan Way in Bremerton or the Coho Room at the Silverdale Community Center at 9729 Silverdale Way NW in Silverdale.