King County Projects 48.5% Voter Turnout, 2 Ballot Updates Friday

RENTON, WA — According to King County projections, more people voted in the 2019 General Election than initially expected. Election officials estimate 48.5 percent of active King County voters returned their ballots by the election night deadline. Friday will see two ballot drops, with updates posted at 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Friday's numbers should include 160,000 ballots, leaving just 5 percent left to count, and giving voters a much clearer picture of the election's outcome. No updates will be released over the weekend, or on Monday, which is Veterans Day. According to King County Elections, the next ballot drop after Friday is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Friday's numbers could reveal big shifts in some local races, as more last-minute ballots are tabulated. Seattle's District 3 contest, between councilmember Kshama Sawant and challenger Egan Orion, tightened up considerably after Thursday's ballot drop. King County ballots also have the potential to sway Referendum 88, the ballot measure seeking to reinstate affirmative action in Washington. As of Thursday, voters statewide were rejecting the measure by less than 3 percentage points, or approximately 33,000 votes.