Evan Smith: Local voter turnout was higher than State, county averages

By Evan Smith

ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

Local voter turnout for the November general election was a little higher than the State and King County averages, averages that were the highest for a non-presidential election in 40 years.

The statewide turnout of 71.24 percent was the highest for an off-year election since 1970, when Washington elected the late Democratic Sen. Henry Jackson for the fourth time and passed an initiative that legalized abortion, more than two years before Roe v. Wade.

This year, with the State electing Democratic Sen. Patty Murray for the fourth time and voting on six high-profile initiatives, King County had a turnout higher than the statewide average -- 71.65 percent in the County.

The King County portion of the 32nd Legislative District – Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and the Finn Hill area near Kirkland – had a higher turnout than the State or County averages -- 74.29 percent.

The cities of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and Kenmore – the Shoreline Court District – had a turnout of 74.35 percent.

Despite the levy-lift proposition on the City of Shoreline's ballot, turnout in the City was lower than that in nearby cities, although it was higher than the State and county averages.

During the primary, the Lake Forest Park levy-lift proposition brought out the highest turnout in the County. That wasn’t true for Shoreline in the general election. Shoreline’s turnout was 72.91 percent.

Voter turnout in Washington counties ranged from 63.44 percent in Yakima County to 84.79 percent for Columbia County in Southeast Washington.