The King County Department of Elections is reporting its highest rate of primary election turnout since 2004, attributing it to this year's launch of prepaid postage for ballots. According to a post on the department's blog, voter turnout was 43.4 percent, higher than the projected 40 percent.
This primary marked the first time voters didn't need a stamp to turn in their ballots. An ordinance funding prepaid ballot postage was passed by the King County Council back in May 2018, allocating $381,000 for the elections department to set up the system in time for the primary in August.
The post also said that the availability of prepaid postage led to more voters returning their ballots through the mail, with two-thirds of voters returning their ballots by mail. In previous general elections, a majority of voters favored drop boxes.
Prepaid postage will be available for the Nov. 6 general election.
Are you registered to vote or do you need to update your registration? Check at this link.
Scroll down to continue reading
More news from KIRO 7
- Video shows man on destructive rampage in downtown Seattle Target store
- Man dead after officer-involved shooting in Marysville
- Police investigate after attempted abductions of young girls near Shelton schools
- Police: Teen shot in Seattle's Northgate neighborhood
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
Cox Media Group