Don’t forget that today is Election Day, so all ballots must be postmarked by today. King County has removed all but two drop-off ballot boxes that many people relied on in the past, since the drop boxes accepted ballots until 8 p.m.

So if you haven’t mailed you ballot yet, get to the post office before they close tonight.

It’s a little harder to remember when Election Day is now, since King County voters no longer go to an actual polling place, instead voting by mail. So here’s a little reminder: Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, Feb. 9 in order to count.

And King County has removed all but two of its drop boxes, so if you can’t make it to the post office by 5 p.m. Tuesday, you’ll have to drop it into a free drop box at the King County Administration Building, 500 Fourth Ave. in downtown Seattle, or at King County Elections Headquarters, 9010 East Marginal Way S. in Tukwila.

You can also drop it off at one of King County’s three accessible voting centers, including one at Seattle’s Union Station 401 S. Jackson St., until 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

On the ballot in Seattle are two Seattle Public School measures to renew existing Operating and Capital levies. There’s a student-led rally in support of the measures from 12-1 p.m. Saturday at the Green Lake Boat House, 5900 W. Green Lake Way N., followed by a walk around the lake.

Don’t forget that ballots must be postmarked by today to count in this election. In King County there’s only one race on the ballot - that of Elections Director. This is King County’s first all-mail election, so it’s easy to forget there’s even an election going on since there are no actual polls to vote at.

Instead of mailing, ballots without postage can be returned to a 24-hour ballot drop box until 8 p.m. today. Click here for ballot drop box locations.

And you can track the progress of your ballot online, to see if it’s been received by the elections office and your signature has been verified.

2/4 update: Sherril Huff has a commanding lead in the balloting as of this morning.

King County Executive Ron Sims announced moments ago that he is resigning to take a position with the Obama administration. Sims will become deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The appointment requires Senate confirmation.

That means the race for King County Executive is wide open, with Democratic County Councilman Larry Phillips, who represents our area, already throwing his hat into the ring. Philips lives in Magnolia and is a strong advocate for Sound Transit and light rail.

Last November voters passed a county charter amendment that would change the Executive’s position from partisan to non-partisan.

Update 11:30 a.m.: The King County Council will now choose an interim replacement to serve until voters elect a new Executive in November. Here are excerpts from a statement from Council Chair Dow Constantine:

“I will sit down immediately with my colleagues to create a non-partisan process to choose an interim replacement to serve the remainder of Executive Sims’ term.

“An ideal appointee would possess the necessary policy experience, political skills, and management ability to help guide King County through the next several months. We need an appointed executive who can devote his or her full attention and talents to the unprecedented financial challenges facing King County.

Don’t forget that your ballot for King County’s first all-mail election must be postmarked by Tuesday. For a number of people, this will be the first time they’ve voted by mail.

Ballots must be inserted into the security envelope, then the outer envelope with the voter oath must be signed. If there’s more than one voter in your household, don’t try to put all the ballots into just one envelope to save on postage.

As required by law, the signature on every absentee envelope is verified against the voter’s registration record. Be sure to use your legal, professional signature and not simply your initials. If your signature has changed over the years, please update your records with King County Elections because your signature makes your vote count.

Instead of mailing, ballots without postage can be returned to a 24-hour ballot drop box until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Click here for ballot drop box locations.

For the first time, you can track the progress of your ballot online, to see if it’s been received by the elections office and your signature has been verified.

And if you haven’t received your ballot in the mail yet, call 206-296-VOTE (8683).

Updated: The Secretary of State’s site is now providing local election results, and you can find more on KING5.com. National results are available here on msnbc.com. And feel free to leave your election night comments below…

A Ballard neighborhood association hosted a debate tonight between Reuven Carlyle and John Burbank, two Democrats running for the open legislative seat in the 36th District, which includes Phinney Ridge and much of Greenwood.

The majority of the 45-minute debate featured both candidates agreeing with each other, more or less, on critical issues such as transportation, low income housing, health care, education and the troubled economy. But the last question asked what are the top differences between Burbank and Carlyle. “Number one, I don’t take corporate contributions,” Burbank said, pointing out that Carlyle didn’t go along with his proposal to limit campaign contributions in the race. “The idea that I am somehow in the pocket of those organizations whereas 80 plus percent of my money comes from individuals, so for a small amount of money, is simply silly,” Carlyle responded.

As for policy issues, Burbank emphasized his work on the minimum wage initiative, which guarantees automatic cost of living raises, as well as his contributions on family leave insurance. “The core issue here is who is the real change agent,” Burbank said. “We can talk about change, we can talk about dialogue, or we can take action. If you look at my record, I have taken action.”

Carlyle underlined his work on a bill that guaranteed a chance at a college education for foster kids, and he emphasized his experience as a wireless and software entrepreneur and a volunteer citizen activist. “The fundamental question is, do you believe in the concept of a citizen legislature,” he said, explaining that public policy has been Burbank’s job for 25 years. “I like to listen, I like to learn, and I embrace failure as well as success,” Carlyle said.

With the voter registration deadline looming for the Nov. 4 general election, organizers are holding a voter registration drive outside of the Greenwood Market, 8500 3rd Ave. NW today from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

They’ll also help you if you’ve had a recent change of address. The last day to register by mail is Oct. 4. After that, the last day to register in person at the elections office is Oct. 20. Here’s more deadline info.

In a monthly meeting of 36th District Democrats on Thursday night, John Burbank received 74 percent of their vote for the “sole endorsement” of his campaign for the state legislature. “The overwhelming endorsement of the rank-and-file membership of the 36th District Democrats indicates that as we approach the General Election, Democrats have taken a much closer look at this campaign and the difference between the candidates,” Burbank explained in an email to supporters and the press. “Clearly, they see our campaign as the one that can deliver real change for the families of our district and our state.”

But fellow Democrat Reuven Carlyle came out on top in August’s top-two primary, receiving 44.5 percent of the vote to Burbank’s 40 percent. So why the big discrepancy? “Instead of focusing on the 85,000 voters of our district, my opponent — a 30 year lobbyist, latte tax sponsor and campaign aide — worked behind the scenes to pack a church basement with an extra 40 people to give him a sole endorsement of the local party organization,” Carlyle told us in an email today. “No amount of 1980s style, behind the scenes, insider political party games from my opponent is going to change the results of that election.” Carlyle and Burbank will face off in November after possibly the most expensive and contentious legislative race in our state’s history.

It’s the “top two” primary, which means the top two in each race will proceed to the general election, regardless of party. So get out and vote (or mail in those absentees.) Here in the 36th district, the big showdown is the state legislative battle between Reuven Carlyle (D), John Burbank (D) and Leslie Bloss (R) — which may become our state’s most expensive legislative race ever.

As of 2:30 a.m.the results of the “top two” primary are: John Burbank, 42.21%, Reuven Carlyle, 41.53% and Leslie Bloss, 16.26%. As expected, Burbank and Carlyle are neck-and-neck, and the two Democrats will proceed to the general election where they’ll face off for the 36th district legislative seat. Get ready for a lot more signs around the neighborhood.

Two Democrats who hope to replace longtime 36th District Rep. Hellen Sommers in the state Legislature are in full campaign swing, judging by the number of signs dotting lawns throughout the area.

The Seattle PI published a backgrounder today on Queen Anne resident Reuven Carlyle, a follow-up to a profile they did last week on John Burbank, who lives in Phinney Ridge.

In previous years, this election would essentially be over after the August primary, with the top Democrat going on to win against a token Republican opponent in the heavily Democratic district. But with a change to a top-two primary, Burbank and Carlyle are expected to both be on the November ballot.

And if you’re wondering, Leslie Bloss has filed as the Republican challenger, but according to the Seattle PI, has yet to raise more than $150 for her campaign.

For more background on the candidates, visit Burbank’s site and Carlyle’s site.

The blue and yellow campaign signs are everywhere in the neighborhood. Democrats John Burbank and Reuven Carlyle are vying for the state representative seat in the 36th district in a highly-competitive race. Last night, a meeting of voting Democrats was unable to reach a consensus on endorsing one of the candidates, reports the PI. With the state’s top-two primary a month away, both Burbank and Carlyle will likely make the cut and head into November, spending as much as a combined $500,000 along the way — an unprecedented figure for a state house race.