Ballots for the Aug. 19 primary election go out in the mail in 16 days, on Aug. 1. If you aren’t registered to vote, do so.

To register to vote in the primary, your registration must be postmarked by Saturday; you can also register in person at the county Elections Office at Second and Reed streets, across the street from the county courthouse. If you’re new to the county, you have up to 15 days before the election to register. Seventeen-year-olds can register to vote as long as they are 18 by Election Day.

Have a Washington state driver’s license? You can register online. Visit www.sanjuanco.com/elections/registration.aspx.

To register by mail, visit www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/pdf/vrform.pdf to print out a voter registration form you can fill out and mail in. Mail to San Juan County Elections, P.O. Box 638, Friday Harbor 98250.

To register in person, visit the Elections Office. Elections Supervisor Doris Schaller and Elections Assistant Carlys Allen will assist you.

We can’t emphasize enough the importance of voting in this election. Several candidates are vying for the opportunity to make decisions on your behalf. In the county, there are four candidates for County Council, San Juan South; two for County Council, Friday Harbor; and five for County Council, Orcas West. There are two candidates for San Juan County Superior Court judge. The judge’s race will be decided in the Aug. 19 primary. In the other races, the top two vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 4 general election.

The League of Women Voters of the San Juan Islands is hosting a primary election candidate forum Aug. 2, 2:30-4:30 p.m., in Mullis Community Senior Center, 589 Nash St., Friday Harbor. Candidates for Congress, Legislature and local offices have been invited.