Reed forecasts 51 percent voter turnout

By Associated Press

Summary

Reed, the state's chief elections official, says most voters are casting ballots by mail, boosting the turnout higher than it might have been. Ballots must be postmarked by midnight Tuesday.

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Story Published: Oct 30, 2007 at 11:06 AM PST

Story Updated: Oct 30, 2007 at 11:06 AM PST

Reed forecasts 51 percent voter turnout
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Secretary of State Sam Reed is forecasting a 51 percent turnout for the November general election.

Reed, the state's chief elections official, says most voters are casting ballots by mail, boosting the turnout higher than it might have been. Ballots must be postmarked by midnight Tuesday.

Nearly all counties, 36 of the 39, have vote-by-mail and King, Pierce and Kittitas are expected to make the switch by next year. A record 95 percent of the August primary vote was mailed in.

Reed says 51 percent is the average of the last seven odd-year elections. He says six statewide ballot measures are generating a modest amount of interest, especially a referendum dealing with insurance, and voters in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties face a big roads-and-transit proposal.