King County Certifies Primary Election; 56 Percent Voter Turnout

RENTON, WA — King County Elections certified the results of this month's primary election on Tuesday, logging 56 percent voter participation. Among the more than 750,000 ballots counted, elections workers collected approximately 240,000 from the county's 69 drop boxes on election day. More than half of voters chose to visit drop boxes, rather than mail them.

In Washington's top-two primary system, the two candidates with the highest number of votes advance to November's general election, regardless of party preference or affiliation. According to King County Elections, there were clear results in all races except one contest for a precinct committee officer, which will be recounted by machine on Thursday.

Related: Review the complete 2020 August Primary results here.

"Despite a global pandemic and concerns about the state of the United States Postal Service, we here in King County continue to show the rest of the country that vote-by-mail is both an accessible and secure way to vote," said Julie Wise, King County Director of Elections. "The high turnout in this Primary election shows that our voters have confidence in the system and confidence that their votes will be counted and their voices heard."

Now, elections workers turn their attention to November, when voter participation is again expected to hit record levels.

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday, joined by a coalition of 13 other states, over recent changes to the U.S. Postal Service. Earlier in the day, newly-appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced he would suspend planned alterations until after the election.

"While there continue to be growing concerns around the country about the United States Postal Service's ability and capacity to handle an increase in vote-by-mail ballots this fall, King County Elections remains committed as ever to ensuring that every eligible voter receives their ballot in a timely manner and has ample opportunity to cast their ballot and make their voice hear," officials wrote in a statement.

To help meet the demand, King County Elections is still looking to fill hundreds of temporary positions at its Renton headquarters between now and the general election.