(The Center Square) – Ballots for Washington’s Aug. 6 primary election will soon be showing up in registered voters’ mailboxes.
The ballot includes candidates for governor and several other state level elected offices, such as attorney general and lands commissioner, as well as Washington’s U.S. House districts and a U.S. Senate seat.
In Washington, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliations.
“We’ve seen that before where in 2018 I think with the state Treasurer’s office, two Republicans advanced to the general, so that is absolutely a possibility,” said Stuart Holmes, director of Elections at the Secretary of State’s Office.
“It’s not dependent on party, it’s just the top two vote getters advancing to the November election,” he reiterated.
Holmes told The Center Square the office expects a lot of ballots to be cast.
“This year we’re expecting a high turnout, and we’re looking at the 2020 primary to base our projections,” he said.
“In 2020 we had 54%, so this primary would be close to that,” Holmes said. “We’re always happy to see our projection get beaten, so challenge accepted.”
One of the key drivers for turnout, Holmes noted, will be the governor’s race.
“We have a governor’s race on the ballot and voters have heard more than two names and only the top two will advance to the general election,” he said. “With such a wide field for that race, those voters are going to be critical for who advances.”
There’s a lot on the ballot besides state and federal candidates.
“The primary will have a special election component, where your local taxing districts like fire districts and school districts put ballot measures up,” Holmes explained.
As previously reported by The Center Square, several fire districts and cities are asking voters to lift levy lids that cap annual increases to 1% a year.
People can register to vote right up until Aug. 6, and there is still time to make a name or address change that has occurred since the last election.
“The easiest way is to go online and update your registration if you have moved, or changed your name,” Holmes said.
He went on to say, “Or if your ballot doesn’t show up, you can go online and request one to be mailed to you or you can print one out at home, if you have a printer.”
For voters concerned about privacy with their ballot or potential tampering, Holmes recommended signing up for text alerts.
“Sign up for ballot text alerts. It’s one of the biggest pieces of reassurance that you can get. If you sign up, you’ll get a text alert once it’s been received for counting,” he said. “You can also track your ballot activity online.”
“If you have any concerns at all, you have the option to return it at a ballot drop box or go in person to a voting center,” Holmes continued. “It really is up to the person for what’s their comfort level.”
Holmes said the local issues on the primary ballot are what should really inspire voters to fill out their ballots and turn them in.
“Everybody’s jived up and excited about the presidential election, it’s a big race, but these local races and these local measures have a bigger impact on our everyday lives,” Holmes observed.
Ballots have to be postmarked by Aug. 6 or placed into a drop box by 8 p.m. that day.
No stamp is required on the return envelope.
