By: Pepper Fisher
OLYMPIA — Washington state saw its highest primary turnout in more than five decades, with 55% of the state’s 4.6 million voters returning ballots for last week’s election.
Here in Clallam County, the turnout was even better at 60.33%, with all ballots counted. That’s among the highest in the state.
Interim Elections Manager Damon Townsend says such a high turnout is unusual for an August primary.
“This is really exciting to have such a high turnout like this. I mean, you know, over sixty percent in an August primary is pretty unprecedented. It’s a happy day when we mail out ballots to all of our voters and more than, you know, almost two-thirds of them have returned them. That’s that’s a great and awesome thing to see in our state.”
The final statewide turnout number won’t be known until next week, after county canvassing boards have reviewed any ballots that have been challenged over issues like signatures or postmarks, and that could include a limited number here in Clallam County as well.
As of Tuesday night, current turnout based on the number of ballots processed to date, was at nearly 53%, with an estimated 56,000 ballots left to process.