Election Day has arrived, and officials in Yakima County report that ballots have poured in faster than expected leading into Washington’s Nov. 3 general election.
Kathy Fisher, elections manager for Yakima County, reported that daily ballot returns outpaced the rate seen at this point during the 2024 presidential election, a period when voter participation is typically higher.
“If we compare the daily returns to, say, the 2024 election, we're ahead of that year,” Fisher told The Center Square.
She said returns have come in “quite a bit faster, actually, than what we expected."
Statewide participation is tracking strong as polling closes. According to the official Washington Secretary of State Ballot Return Statistics, more than 2 million ballots have been processed leading into Election Day across the state's 5.16 million active registered voters, which is a little over 40%.
In Benton County, Elections Manager Amanda Hatfield noted that local returns have arrived steadily right in line with forecasts.
"It really is about what I was expecting," Hatfield said.
Unlike many states, Washington does not register voters by political affiliation. Consequently, election officials cannot provide a party breakdown of participating voters.
Fisher urged any voters holding unreturned ballots to turn them in immediately before Tuesday's deadline.
“Early voting helps us get those ballots processed, and it also helps candidates have a better idea of where they stand on election night when results are released,” Fisher said.
All ballots must be deposited in an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, or postmarked by Tuesday if returned via standard mail. Washington voters can track their submission status online through the state's VoteWA portal.
Eligible Washington residents who missed the online or mail-in deadlines can still register to vote and cast a ballot in person on Election Day. State law allows same-day in-person voter registration up until 8 p.m. at designated county voting centers and local election offices.
Voters can find their nearest official voting center or drop box location by logging into the state's VoteWA Portal or checking with their local county elections department.
In a social media check-in with Washington voters, community members pointed to public education funding, household cost pressures and judicial contests as primary drivers behind their votes.
Yakima resident Justin Hall stressed that elected leaders must prioritize local schools and relieve financial strains on working families.
“We talk a lot about investing in our future, but that starts with investing in our kids,” Hall said. “Investing in our children’s future shouldn’t mean sacrificing our ability to provide for them today.”
Others are tracking key legislative and judicial matchups. Lee Tennyson pointed to the District 4 race between Yakima County Republican Amanda McKinney and Tri-Cities Democrat John Duresky, describing it as a closely watched contest.
Jon Davidson and Betsy Levine both emphasized the importance of state judicial races. Davidson voiced concern over gubernatorial judicial appointments versus direct voter elections, while Levine noted that finding detailed information on judicial candidates can be challenging for voters.
"With critical cases and initiatives bound to be heard, it matters who is on the bench," Davidson said.
Sandy Gourley commented, "No data centers and lower gas. As a senior, makes it tough with the prices."
Initial unofficial returns will begin posting shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday.
