WA secretary of state predicts 46 percent turnout

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Sam Reed is predicting that 46 percent of voters will turn in their ballots for the Aug. 7 primary. Reed says the average of the last six primaries in similar election years is 43 percent. The highest primary turnout in recent years was 45.8 percent in 1992. Military and overseas ballots have already been sent out, and the rest of the state’s 3.7 million voters will begin getting their ballots by the end of next week. Voters must have their ballots postmarked by the Aug. 7 primary election, or can place them in a drop box by that day. Voters will weigh in on several races in Washington’s “top two” primary, including the governor’s race, a U.S. Senate race, all of the state’s U.S. House seats, state Supreme Court races and dozens of legislative seats.