Washington early voting has passed 773,000 returned ballots, putting turnout slightly ahead of the equivalent stage of the 2022 midterm election with just over a week remaining before Election Day.
Figures from the Washington Secretary of State’s Office show that 773,792 ballots had been returned from nearly 5.16 million registered voters. Of those, 744,485 had been accepted, equivalent to about 14.43 per cent of eligible voters.
At the same point before the 2022 election, roughly 669,000 ballots had been cast. This year’s participation rate is therefore about two percentage points higher.
Older voters lead Washington early voting
Only about 4,500 returned ballots have been challenged so far, representing 0.58 per cent of those submitted. Missing or mismatched signatures remain the main reasons for challenges, according to election officials.
Older voters are accounting for the largest share of early returns. People aged 65 and over have recorded a turnout rate of 30.3 per cent, followed by voters aged 55 to 64 at 16.8 per cent. Among those aged 18 to 24, the rate is 4.4 per cent.
Drop boxes are proving considerably more popular than the postal service. State data shows that 68.1 per cent of returned ballots were deposited at official drop boxes, while 30.83 per cent were sent by mail.
Washington’s early turnout is broadly in line with neighbouring states. Oregon has recorded a return rate of 15.7 per cent, while California’s stands at 12 per cent.
Online and postal voter registration for the November 3 general election closes on October 26. Residents who miss that deadline can still register or update their details in person at a county voting centre through to 8pm on Election Day.
Election officials advise voters returning ballots by post to send them by October 27 to ensure they receive an official postmark by November 3. Ballots can also be placed in an official drop box up to 8pm on Election Day.
