All precincts have turned in their finalized election results, and voter turnout for the Aug. 1 Primary Election in Washington was 26.92 percent, higher than the numbers set in the previous two odd-year primaries. Turnout in 2015’s Primary was 24.37 percent while 2013’s was 25.99 percent. In Pierce County, 18.7 percent of registered voted in the August 1st primary.
“Even though this year’s turnout is the highest since 2011 for odd-year primaries, it is by no means encouraging that only just over a quarter of our state’s registered voters chose to make their voices heard,” said Secretary of State Kim Wyman. “Even though it is more convenient for citizens to register and cast their vote than ever before, it really comes down to how interested people are in a particular issue or candidate for them to exercise their civic duty.”
Voter turnout in a presidential election year is typically the highest, while odd-year elections historically trend lower – even though it’s the local measures and offices that will often most directly affect voters’ lives, noted Wyman.
The Secretary of State’s Office has undertaken numerous measures over the last decade to increase the likelihood that eligible citizens will register and vote, including:
* Promoting voter registration through the Department of Licensing (motor voter)
* Offering voter registration at state agencies as part of every sign-up or renewal of benefits
* Pioneering voter registration by mail, and online
* Delivering a voter information pamphlet to every household in Washington state that includes information about how to register
* Providing voter registration information to college students when they register for classes
* Sending voter registration information to all young people when they turn 18 years of age
* Annually reaching out to potentially eligible but not yet registered voters with registration information
* Providing voter pamphlets in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese
* Providing voter registration information in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Burmese, Khmer (Cambodian), Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Tagalog and Ukrainian – and in forms accessible to persons with disabilities.
– Washington Secretary of State
