Election workers proclaimed Snohomish County’s first all-mail general election a success with few glitches and voter turnout expected to be as high as 68 percent.
“Everything was so smooth,” said Carolyn Diepenbrock, election manager for the county auditor’s office.
More than 334,000 ballots were sent to homes in Snohomish County.
County Auditor Bob Terwilliger predicted voter turnout would be at least 60 percent and as high as 68 percent.
Roughly 40 percent of the expected votes had been counted Tuesday. More than 94,000 of the ballots were tallied Tuesday. As many as 133,600 could be left to count.
More than 1,100 ballots – 1 percent – were challenged because of suspicious or missing signatures.
Workers are to start counting again at 2 p.m. today and again at 9 a.m. Thursday. Results won’t be considered final until they are certified Nov. 28.
It was unclear Tuesday if any residents of flooded areas were unable to vote. The auditor’s office fielded calls from some voters concerned about getting their votes counted. Options included e-mail and fax if mail service was not available.
Among the surprises were the lines of people waiting to vote at electronic machines intended for disabled voters at the county auditor’s office and at Everett Station.
Lines at both locations reached out the doorways at times Tuesday.
More than 350 people voted on electronic machines at the county offices Tuesday. About 50 voted on the machines at Everett Station. Several hundred more people came to the county offices to get replacement ballots.
More electronic voting machines are expected to be added next fall when the number of sites for disabled voters is expanded, Terwilliger said.
The election saw a fare number of last-minute voters.
Election workers were kept busy on phones and at front desks helping people who didn’t receive their ballots, directing them to collection centers and giving replacement ballots for those who made mistakes, moved or lost their ballots.
Unlike past election years, when counting could stretch to midnight, workers had packed up and gone home by 8:30 p.m.
“It was a real calm feeling to the point I was really worried that people weren’t engaged,” Diepenbrock said. “It’s clear by (Tuesday) with all the people calling, wanting to vote … they may be engaged late, but they really are engaged.”
Reporter Jim Haley contributed to this report.
Reporter Melissa Slager: 425-339-3465 or mslager@heraldnet.com.
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