OLYMPIA — In Washington’s first running of an August primary, voters on Tuesday were asked to choose a Democratic nominee for King County prosecuting attorney and a Republican favorite for state senator in Yakima Valley’s 14th District.
The primary, drawing little attention in this off-year, was conducted mostly by mail. Turnout was projected at 34 percent, slightly better than usual for a primary without statewide contests to stir attention.
Secretary of State Sam Reed said the ease and popularity of vote-by-mail and the a number of intense local government races were keeping the turnout from dipping further.
It’s the first time the state used its new earlier primary — a full month earlier than the traditional post-Labor Day election. Lawmakers adopted the change to give election departments more turnaround time between primary and general elections, including time to handle any recounts.
For most voters, the election day was simply the deadline for posting ballots with the letter carrier or stopping by a dropoff site. About 90 percent of the participants were expected to vote by mail.
All but King, Pierce and Kittitas counties have switched to all-mail voting, and King and Pierce are expected to switch next year.
Reed, touring poll sites in King County on Tuesday, saw very few in-person voters.
“The election board workers are very lonely here,” he said in an interview. “Man, nobody’s going to the polls anymore, despite all the expense of hiring workers and renting polling places. I guess this is further incentive to kick it in gear and make the switch.”
Asotin, Ferry, Garfield, San Juan and Wahkiakum counties and parts of other counties didn’t require a primary this year.
The election was all about local races.
In King County, voters were offered a choice between Bill Sherman, a deputy prosecutor, and attorney Keith Scully for the Democratic nod to take on the interim Republican prosecuting attorney, Dan Satterberg. Satterberg was appointed after veteran prosecutor Norm Maleng died this summer. Satterberg was unopposed for his nomination.
In the only legislative primary, appointed Sen. Jim Clements, R-Selah, and his GOP challenger, business leader Curtis King, squared off for the 14th District nomination that is considered tantamount to election.
Spokane had a five-way primary for mayor. The appointed incumbent, Dennis Hession, and four challengers sought two runoff spots for November.
Seattle and other cities had city council posts, school board and port commission slots open this year. Some counties were electing council members and other local leaders. Some areas had ballot propositions, including two six-year park levies in King County.
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