Benton, Franklin counties lagging behind in voting

Both Benton and Franklin counties are lagging behind the statewide ballot return average of 18.9 percent, according to numbers released by the state Secretary of State’s office on Monday afternoon.

Voters across the state received their ballots at home weeks ago for Tuesday’s election, but the secretary of state’s office has predicted that 46 percent of the state’s four million voters would return their ballots.

Franklin County is seeing particularly low numbers, despite a state legislative race, as well as contested city council and school board races in Pasco.

A total of 5,433 out of 30,460, or 17.8 percent, of registered voters had returned ballots. Only a handful of counties, including Cowlitz, Klickitat and Snohomish, have seen lower returns so far. King County was reporting a ballot return rate of 15.2 percent, but it was expected to be updated Monday night.

Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton has said comparing ballot returns can be misleading since not all drop boxes are checked every day.

Benton County fared slightly better, with 18,690 of 99,328 ballots returned, or 18.8 percent. It has city council, school and hospital board elections on the ballot.

Washington voters will weigh in on two statewide initiatives dealing with wildlife trafficking and taxes, as well as a competitive legislative race in this off-year election.

Democrats hold a slim 51-47 advantage in the House, and Republicans hope to tighten that margin heading into the even more significant 2016 election, when the entire House is on the ballot.

“It seems like nothing has lit up the voters this year,” said David Ammons, spokesman for Secretary of State Kim Wyman.

The biggest-ticket items are the two statewide ballot measures. Initiative 1401 would ban the purchase, sale and distribution of parts or products made from 10 endangered animals: lions, elephants, rhinos, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, marine turtles, pangolins, sharks and rays.

Initiative 1366 would decrease the 6.5-percent state sales tax to 5.5 percent unless the Legislature approves a constitutional amendment that would reinstate a two-thirds legislative majority requirement if voters approved it. Currently, taxes can be raised through a simple-majority vote of the Legislature.

Voters are also deciding on four non-binding advisory votes on tax increases approved by the Legislature earlier this year, including a gas tax increase and an excise tax on medical marijuana. Regardless of the result on those votes, no changes in state law will occur because of them.

A 46-percent statewide election return total is being forecast, with the majority of ballots expected to be arrive to be counted Monday, Tuesday and Nov. 4. The numbers posted Tuesday night are expected to include about half the total votes cast.

Ballots for Benton and Franklin County elections must be postmarked or turned in to a drop box by 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Because ballots just need to be postmarked by 8 p.m. election night, results may not be in for days or even weeks in especially close races.

The Secretary of State’s office is recommending voters use drop boxes to make sure ballots arrive in time.

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 12:40 PM with the headline "Benton, Franklin counties lagging behind in voting."