Regional News

Primary Voting Begins in Washington

Jul 16, 2014

Ten years after Washington voters adopted the Top 2 Primary system by initiative, it’s time for the 2014 edition.

Check your mail over the next few days for your Primary ballot. Although it’s a mid-term election, there are races that are significant here in Okanogan County.

The 2014 Primary actually got under way last month when county election officials sent ballots by mail and electronically to about 65,000 military and overseas voters. Now it’s time for the rest of us.

This year’s Primary, which ends Aug. 5, will be dominated by races in all 10 congressional districts, including the competitive race here in the open 4th Congressional District to replace retiring U.S. Rep. “Doc” Hastings. The Primary also includes all 98 state House seats and 25 of the 49 state Senate seats.

On the local level the race for Okanogan County PUD Commissioner will be narrowed from four candidates down to two and the race for the newly created position of County Coroner will be narrowed down from three candidates.

The top two vote-getters in each partisan race advance to the General Election, regardless of party preference.

Secretary of State Wyman predicts that Primary voter turnout will be about 40 percent, which is in the same range as the 2010 Primary (41 percent) and 2006 Primary (38.8 percent).

Wyman, Washington’s chief elections official, encourages voters to take part in the Primary by filling out and returning their ballot in time for their vote to count.

Ballots must be postmarked by Aug. 5 or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

If you aren’t registered to vote in Washington, you have until July 28 to do so. You will need to visit you’re the county elections office to register in person.