Voters will again have a chance to participate in the democratic process.

The Island County Auditor’s Office mailed out just a bit more than 50,000 ballots this week for the Nov. 5 general election.

Island County Deputy Auditor Michele Reagan said the ballots were expected to go out Oct. 16, but the statute allows for ballots to be mailed out as late as Oct. 18.

“We’re going to beat that by a couple of days,” Reagan said last week.

Even though ballots need to be postmarked by Nov. 5, the majority typically come in during the days leading up to the election deadline.

Reagan said staff sees the largest number of ballots the day before, Election Day and the day after the deadline.

Of the nearly 43,000 votes cast during the 2012 general election, nearly 14,000 ballots were received on those three days.

People can also drop off ballots at several ballots located throughout Island County.

For more information, go to

wei.sos.wa.gov/county/island/en/Elections/Pages/default.aspx