King County Election Day: How To Cast Last-Minute Ballots

KING COUNTY, WA — Tuesday is Election Day and last-minute voters around King County still have plenty of ways to return their ballots before the polls close at 8 p.m. Ballots for the August primary were mailed to 1.4 million registered voters in mid-July and, according to King County Elections data, turnout had yet to break 20 percent by noon Monday. Election Day typically sees a surge in ballot returns, and the county projects turnout will hit 45 percent when all is said and done.

Since mailed ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, the safest route to make last-minute votes count is by visiting one of King County's official drop boxes or seeking out a vote center in Bellevue, Seattle, Renton, Kent, Kenmore, or Federal Way. All vote centers open at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and will serve voters until 8 p.m. Residents can also register in person until the polls close.

According to the Secretary of State's office, 135 state and federal offices are on primary ballots across Washington this year, along with 407 county-level races and more than five dozen local measures. In King County, 160 candidates are vying for 52 offices.

Sen. Patty Murray is seeking a sixth term in the U.S. Senate and faces 17 primary challengers. Four Democratic members of the U.S. House are also in the primary: Reps Pramila Jayapal, Suzan DelBene, Kim Schrier and Adam Smith. Schrier's 8th District race is among the top to watch, with Republican challengers Reagan Dunn, Jesse Jensen and Matt Larkin among the candidates vying to face Schrier in November.

In Washington primaries, the top two candidates advance to November regardless of party affiliation.

Another race to watch is for Secretary of State, with eight candidates seeking the post after Republican Kim Wyman stepped down in 2021 to accept an appointment in the Biden administration. Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Democratic state Sen. Steve Hobbs to fill the role, and he is on the ballot seeking a full term. His challengers include Julie Anderson, the Pierce County Auditor, who is running as a nonpartisan.

Most communities will also see state legislators on the ballot, and voters in some areas will see ballot measures in the primary, which were filed by Normandy Park, Skykomish School District, Enumclaw Fire Department, King County Fire Protection District 34, Mountain View Fire and Rescue and the Si View Metropolitan District.

Drop boxes and vote centers close at 8 p.m. Tuesday, and the first batch of results will be posted by 8:15 p.m.

How to vote Tuesday in King County

• Review the full list of candidates and ballot measures on the ballot.
• Drop a completed ballot at a King County Elections drop box before 8 p.m.
• Visit one of six vote centers around King County.