San Juan County tops in state voter turnout


November 28, 2012 · Updated 11:39 AM 

Voter turnout in the November 2012 election weighs in at 89.4 percent in San Juan County, the highest mark of Washington state's 39 counties, according to the county auditor.

Results of the Nov. 6 election were certified by the county canvassing board on Tuesday, Nov. 27. Although the highest mark in the state, local turnout in this year's presidential election proved about two percentage points lower than for the 2008 presidential election, at 91.5 percent.

Auditor Milene Henley, manager of local elections, noted in a press release that the combination of three significant charter propositions, election of three county council members and the state referendum on same-sex marriage all helped in generating interest in among local voters.

San Juan County has historically had one of the highest voter-turnout percentages in the state.

Henley also noted that the statewide initiative seeking to legalize marijuana may have further encouraged this year's "high" voter turnout.

 

 

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