Washington officials predict high voter turnout

OLYMPIA – Secretary of State Sam Reed is predicting 83 percent voter turnout in November.

If he’s right, it would be the best showing for the general election in more than six decades. Ballots will be sent out Friday to most of the state’s more than 3.5 million registered voters.

Reed said Monday that the turnout number is based on the high level of interest in the presidential and governor’s races and ballot measures, as well as the recent surge in voter registrations.

The statewide general election turnout average since 1936 is 78.85 percent. The previous record in modern times was 84.5 percent in 1944.