PORT ORCHARD — Registered voters in Kitsap County who are awaiting the arrival of their general election ballots should expect to receive them by the end of this week or by Saturday, county officials said on Oct. 16.

State law requires ballots to be in the mail by Friday, Oct. 19. Local voters’ pamphlets were mailed last weekend, Steve Gardner of the county Elections Division said, and they should be in hand ahead of the ballots’ arrival. Those who haven’t gotten a local voters’ pamphlet in the mail can access one online at kcowa.us/lvp.

“We are expecting additional interest in this midterm election because people are more engaged this year,” Delores Gilmore, the county’s auditor, said.

“Kitsap County voters have an opportunity to impact important races and measures.”

As was the case with primary election ballots, no postage is required to mail in general election ballots. For voters who prefer to drop off their ballot envelopes, there are 22 ballot drop boxes stationed throughout the county. Five new ballot drop boxes were added earlier this year, Gardner said: one each in Seabeck, Naval Base Kitsap, Keyport, Indianola and at Olympic College’s Poulsbo campus.

For a list and maps of ballot drop locations, go to kcowa.us/vote.

Ballots must be returned to one of the county’s drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6, or postmarked by that day.

Residents not currently registered in Washington state can register in person at the Kitsap County Auditor’s Office, 619 Division St. in Port Orchard, through Oct. 29.