The counting of ballots in Washington’s 2016 general election has come to an end, with counties certifying the results a full three weeks after election day.
King County Elections reported that final voter turnout was 82%, exceeding the statewide average of 78.75% across all thirty-nine counties.
“The department certified the results, which officially declared winners for candidate offices and declared whether ballot measures passed or failed. Candidate concessions or the media announcing a winner of a race are not official declarations,” said the Elections Division in a news release.
Franklin and Stevens counties are still working on finishing up their work. All the other counties have submitted their final reports to the state as of 4:45 PM.
Total statewide voter turnout statewide will be lower than the 2012, 2008, and 2004 elections, which were all above eighty percent. Secretary of State Kim Wyman had suggested turnout might be record-breaking, but it wound up being less than each of the last three presidential elections, continuing a downward trend that we have seen in Washington State over the past few years.