The Associated Press
OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Sam Reed on Friday predicted a 53 percent voter turnout for the Nov. 6 general election, somewhat lighter than usual for an off-year election.
Reed said some areas have hot local races, but candidates are having trouble connecting with distracted voters and the five statewide ballot measures aren’t generating much enthusiasm or controversy.
"I’m still hoping people will turn up their attention despite the national and international situation. We need to focus on what’s going on locally," the state’s chief elections officer said.
"These local races will have more impact on people’s homes and families, in a direct way, than in some of the even-year elections. We have important mayoral races, county commissioners and council members and other offices. And two (state) House races could break the 49-49 tie."
The three statewide initiatives, including a property-tax limit, and a pair of constitutional amendments involve significant choices for voters, "but none of them have generated the emotion or heat we have seen in recent years with other initiatives," Reed said.
In Snohomish County, the site of both key House races and an area where political control of the county council is on the line, turnout should reach 60 percent, said auditor Bob Terwilliger. In the 21st and 38th legislative districts, voter turnout could hit 65 percent, he said.
"The whole county has something interesting to vote on, and some people are interested in the initiatives, particularly I-747," the property-tax limit sponsored by county resident Tim Eyman.
Reed said many voters, perhaps two-thirds of this year’s total turnout, will vote by mail. Absentee ballots were mailed out earlier this week in most counties, and must be postmarked by election day to be counted.
Washington has 3.3 million registered voters.
The last two off-year elections, with a similar number of initiatives and special legislative races, have attracted better than 57 percent of the registered voters. The highest turnout of any recent off-year election was the 68 percent in 1991, when abortion and other hot-button issues were on the ballot. The lowest turnout in recent history was 48 percent in 1989.
On the Net:
Secretary of State: www.vote. wa.gov
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