More than 660,000 ballots, featuring candidates and several important local measures, were mailed last Thursday to absentee voters for Washington’s first top-two primary.

Ballots were mailed to voters serving in the military, living overseas and out of state on July 18 to allow extra transit time for delivery.

New this primary, King County Elections is piloting seven, 24-hour ballot drop boxes throughout the county. The King County Library locations at Algona-Pacific and Black Diamond are two of the six drop-box sites.

All drop boxes will be open 24 hours each day, from now until they close at 8 p.m. on Aug. 19, election day. For more information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections/voting/ballotdropboxes.aspx.

This year’s primary differs from past primaries. The top-two primary allows voters to choose among all candidates running for each office. Voters do not have to declare a party affiliation to vote. After all ballots are counted, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary qualify for the general election.

Candidates also must receive at least 1 percent of the votes cast in that race to advance to the general election.

Voters signed up to receive a mail ballot should receive their ballot at their registered mailing address by Friday, Aug. 8. For more information on voting by mail or to receive your ballot by mail, call 206-296-VOTE (8683) or visit www.kingcounty.gov/vote.

In-person accessible voting is available for all voters starting today through Aug. 18 at King County Elections’ Renton office weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On election day, in-person accessible voting is available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

King County Elections is located at 919 SW Grady Way in Renton and is accessible on Metro bus route 140.