Turnout above average in Washington State

The Secretary of State has certified the 2006 election results. Some highlights:

In the 2006 November Election 2,107,370 ballots were cast statewide, equaling a 64.6% turnout – the second highest turnout of an even-year, non-presidential election in recent history behind a 66.72% turnout in 1982.

Voters cast 1,881,782 ballots by mail, equaling 89.3% of the total ballots cast. King and Pierce Counties are two of the five counties that continue to operate polling locations. In King County 71.5% of the total ballots cast were voted by mail. In Pierce County 84.4% of the total ballots cast were voted by mail.

In Spokane County , a mandatory machine recount has been conducted for the 6th Legislative District position 1. The final results have the candidates, Don A. Barlow and John W. Serben, at a 260 vote difference. Don A. Barlow was declared the winner.

A machine recount is required when the difference between the top two candidates is less than 2,000 votes and also less than ½ of 1% of the total number of votes cast for both candidates. (RCW 29A.64)

In Wahkiakum County , the race for County Commissioner came down to a difference of one vote, triggering a manual recount. The manual recount resulted in the two candidates, Blair Brady and Mark Lindquist, being tied with 890 votes each.

State law indicates the election to then be determined by lot, in this case by a flip of a coin. (RCW 29A.60.2211) Lindquist, the incumbent, was declared the winner.

Added Secretary of State Sam Reed: "The 2006 election really highlights the importance of each and every vote. With rainstorms, snowstorms, and some races coming down to only a few vote differences – citizens can be confident that election officials will do all they can to ensure your constitutional right to vote."