WA Inches Toward Voter Turnout Record; Some Races Still Tight

OLYMPIA, WA — Once every ballot is accounted for, Washington could top the state's all-time voter participation record, surpassing the 84.61 percent turnout reached in the 2008 presidential election.

As of Monday evening, the Secretary of State's office was reporting 4,137,917 ballots received from Washington's 4,893,225 registered voters, reflecting 84.56 percent statewide participation. Nearly one week after Election Day, the state estimates there are more than 67,000 ballots left to process.

For the first time in state history, more than 4 million voters participated in the 2020 general election.

Here are the top 10 counties for voter participation this year, by percentage (as of Nov. 9 at 5 p.m.)

1. San Juan County: 90.9 percent (13,306 ballots)
2. Jefferson County: 90.2 percent (24,991 ballots)
3. Columbia County: 89 percent (2,522 ballots)
4. Garfield County: 88.9 percent (1,499 ballots)
5. Lincoln County: 88.5 percent (7,124 ballots)
6. Whatcom County: 88.2 percent (140,114 ballots)
7. Kittitas County: 88.2 percent (26,794 ballots)
8. Wahkiakum County: 87.5 percent (3,045 ballots)
9. Skagit County: 86.5 percent (74,116 ballots)
10. King County: 86 percent (1,229,928 ballots)

While winners for most races have been declared, a handful of legislative contests remained close over the last week. Most notably, the District 5 match-up between incumbent state Sen. Mark Mullet and progressive challenger Ingrid Anderson. As of Monday, Mullet held a 78-vote lead.

In District 28, another close race between Republican incumbent Steve O'Ban and Democratic challenger T'wina Nobles came to an end Monday with Nobles declaring victory, flipping the seat and becoming only the second Black woman to serve in the Washington State Senate.

The Secretary of State will certify the state's election results by Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Learn more about elections in Washington:

• What triggers a recount?
• 2020 General Election: Statewide Results
• Secretary of State's 2020 elections calandar
• Voter turnout by election