Primary election ballots due Tuesday
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 months AGO
MOSES LAKE – Voting for the primary election is coming to a close Tuesday. For those who would like to vote in the election, ballots need to be postmarked on or before Aug. 5, according to Grant County Auditor Michele Jaderlund.
“Well, every vote counts, so everybody needs to be registered and turn in their ballot to have their voice heard,” Jaderlund said.
She explained that those mailing in their ballots, starting today, should go to the post office and get it postmarked, or drop their ballot off at an official ballot drop box.
There are not primary elections in every city. Grant County has primary elections in the following cities: Ephrata, Grand Coulee, Quincy and Soap Lake. Adams County has primary elections in Hatton, Lamont, Lind, Ritzville and Washtucna.
Following the primary, general election ballots are due Nov. 4, 2025.
In Grant County, nearly 14,000 people are registered to vote as of July 30, according to the Washington Secretary of State. Of those, around 2,000 people or about 13.9% of voters have turned in their ballots.
In Adams County, about 2,500 people are registered to vote as of Thursday, according to the Washington Secretary of State. Of those voters, around 600 people or 23.5% of voters have turned in their ballots.
ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
Mayor Peter Sharp takes oath of office
SOAP LAKE – Grant County Commissioner Kevin Burgess adminstered the oath of office to Mayor Peter Sharp Wednesday. Sharp was previously appointed to this role at the Sept. 18, 2024, council meeting after his predecessor Allen DuPay quit during the Aug. 7, 2024, meeting.
Newhouse, colleagues introduce infrastructure bill
WASHINGTON D.C. — On November 21, 2025, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced the Urban Canal Modernization Act, HR 6279, aimed at addressing the deteriorating condition of urban canal infrastructure across the country. This legislation, sponsored by Representatives Dan Newhouse, R-WA; Mike Simpson, R-ID; Adam Gray, D-CA; and Russ Fulcher, R-ID focuses on providing federal support for the extraordinary operation and maintenance of urban canals deemed to be at significant risk of failure. “As communities in Grant County and elsewhere face serious risks from aging canal systems, it is imperative that we act now to ensure vital water infrastructure is maintained and upgraded,” Newhouse wrote in a statement. “The Bureau of Reclamation’s canals are in dire need of repairs, and the surrounding communities who rely on them would be at risk if they were to fail. This legislation provides local authorities with additional resources to manage these critical pieces of infrastructure while protecting the people and property around canals of concern.”
Ephrata water tower waiting for final tests
EPHRATA — The City of Ephrata is still waiting for the final testing to come back to the water tower. The city had originally hoped the tower would be connected to the water system by Thanksgiving; however, the intensive water testing is taking longer than anticipated.