Voters head to the polls on Tuesday, completing the state’s arduous task of conducting a new primary.
Election officials are bracing for those who become enraged when they encounter the biggest change – the requirement to pick a political party in order to vote on partisan races.
Poll workers are preparing to respond so no one turns heel and leaves without voting.
“Our right to vote is too important to not exercise it in this election,” said Caroline Diepenbrock, Snohomish County’s election manager.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Statewide, voters are choosing Democratic, Republican and Libertarian nominees for Congress, plus governor, seven other statewide offices and most state legislative seats. Tuesday’s winners will advance to the general election on Nov. 2.
The ballot also contains a number of nonpartisan races on which everyone can vote, regardless of party preference. Those include state Supreme Court, Snohomish County Superior Court and the superintendent of public instruction.
There also are decisions on financial measures ranging from Everett’s transit tax to emergency medical service levies in Arlington, Marysville and Mukilteo.
Snohomish County Auditor Bob Terwilliger predicts a turnout of about 40 percent of the county’s 330,000 registered voters, similar to past primaries in presidential election years.
Such a showing would be welcome news for officials forced to make the most significant change in the election process in 70 years.
In 1934, voters approved the blanket primary, which allowed them to select any candidate from any party in every race. Four years ago, leaders of the state’s Democratic, Republican and Libertarian parties sued, contending they had the constitutional right to make sure only party members chose party nominees.
On April 1, Gov. Gary Locke signed the bill establishing the current system. Opponents sued, and the state Supreme Court upheld Locke’s action in July. Since then, Secretary of State Sam Reed and auditors of the state’s 39 counties have been preparing.
In Snohomish County, design of the absentee ballot went through five variations before being mailed. For the electronic voting machines, new software was developed, tested and certified by the state.
Additional costs for this election – including ballots, voter guides, public outreach and overtime – will be at least $500,000 in the county. As of this week, the state had sent $450,000 to cover most of the tab.
The biggest change is that voters must pick a party, then vote only for candidates of that party in most races for state and federal offices.
Reaction from those who vote by mail has been strong. A couple of dozen returned their absentee ballots with protest statements written on the envelope.
“That’s just not fair to those folks who have been working so hard on these various ballot issues for people not to vote,” Terwilliger said.
“As angry as they might be about the primary, they need to turn over the (absentee) ballot or go through the prompts on the (electronic voting machine) screen to vote on those measures.”
He also offers another reason to vote in Tuesday’s primary: to be part of history. “This may be the only time they vote in a primary like this,” Terwilliger said.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 1-360-352-8623 or jcornfield@ heraldnet.com.
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