Less than a week before election, only 9.1 percent of ballots returned

EVERETT — Snohomish County voters are certainly not rushing to cast ballots in the Aug. 4 primary.

As of Tuesday morning, 38,297 ballots had been returned representing a slim 9.1 percent of the roughly 421,000 ballots mailed out.

That trickle isn’t worrying the county’s top election official, who said Tuesday that turnout is on pace to reach its historic average by the time every ballot is counted.

Snohomish County Auditor Carolyn Weikel said because an increasing number of voters wait until the last minute to get their ballots in, turnout could wind up as high as 30 percent.

“When we went to all-mail elections we believed that voters would change their voting patterns and get their ballots in earlier. That is not true,” she said. “People are holding onto their ballots longer and longer and using the convenience of the drop boxes to turn them in.”

Last year, for example, 42.5 percent of all ballots cast in the primary were returned via one of the drop boxes, county elections director Garth Fell said. Most of those arrived in the final days, including Election Day, according to county statistics.

If Weikel’s prediction is correct and turnout reaches 30 percent, that would be quite an achievement.

Historically, Snohomish County voters show less interest in odd-year primaries. In 2011, only 25.8 percent took part when a fierce contest for county executive headed the primary ballot. In 2007, the turnout was 28.1 percent.

The last time the county broke 30 percent was in 2003 when the ballot featured a multi-candidate elimination fight for what was then an open county executive seat.

Tuesday’s election features a five-way battle for county executive with the top two vote recipients advancing regardless of party.

County Executive John Lovick and County Councilman Dave Somers, who are both Democrats, are the best known and funded candidates. They are competing with Republicans Robert Sutherland and Norm Nunnally, and independent James Robert Deal.

In this election, turnout varies among communities.

In the city of Snohomish, where a controversial measure to form a Metropolitan Park District is on the ballot, turnout was 13.3 percent

In Everett, where voters are narrowing the field for two council seats, it was 8.6 percent Tuesday. Meanwhile 10.4 percent of voters in Mukilteo and 6.7 percent in Lake Stevens had returned their ballots as of Tuesday. There are contests for a council seat taking place in both cities.

To be valid, mailed ballots must be turned in or postmarked by Tuesday.

Voted ballots can be put postage1free in any of the 11 drop boxes scattered around Snohomish County until 8 p.m. Election Day.

Ballots can also be dropped off at the County Auditor’s Office, on the first floor of the Snohomish County Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. The office is open until 5 p.m. weekdays and will have extended hours Election Day, 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

If you have a question about your ballot or the election, call 425-388-3444.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

Voting

Voter turnout in primaries in Snohomish County 2001-present

2001 — 31.6 percent

2002 — 34.7 percent

2003 — 30.1 percent

2004 — 45.4 percent

2005 — 27.4 percent

2006 — 38.6 percent

2007 — 28.1 percent

2008 — 42.4 percent