County expects large turnout

YAKIMA — Yakima County Auditor Corky Mattingly hasn't seen one nasty note accompanying a returned ballot for this year's new "top-two" primary.

That's quite a turnaround from 2004, when the "pick a party" primary boiled the blood of Washington voters who didn't want to declare party allegiance or stick to one side of the ballot.

"Nasty notes is a nice way of putting it," said Mattingly, referring to the oft-profane correspondence her office received in 2004.

The top-two system has alleviated that, and Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed and county auditors from Central Washington are predicting higher-than-average voter participation in next week's primary because of it.

People seem to love the new system, said Reed, during a stop at the Yakima County Auditor's Office on Tuesday as part of a statewide "Top 2 Palooza" tour. Aside from the state political parties, who oppose the top-two on the grounds it deprives them the ability to nominate their own candidates, there has been no negative feedback, Reed said.

"A number of people didn't vote because of the pick-a-party system who are going to vote this time," he said.

Reed is predicting 46 percent voter participation statewide, the highest for a primary since 1972, when 49.4 percent voted. And, while that high prediction is based partially on the top-two's popularity and partially on the nearly statewide switch to all-mail voting, Reed conceded that the biggest single factor driving it is something he and other elections officials have no hand in.

"Mainly it's because this has really been a politically charged year," Reed said, mentioning the presidential race and the rematch between Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire and her 2004 Republican challenger, Dino Rossi. Gregoire won the contentious, twice-recounted 2004 race by fewer than 150 votes.

"Once Dino Rossi announced for governor -- oh my goodness, that has been a hot race," said Reed, himself a Republican seeking re-election.

Mattingly is predicting 48 percent participation in Yakima County, a sizable jump over the 37 percent last year, 33 percent in 2006 or 37 percent in 2004 -- the most recent presidential election year. Though she said Tuesday that maybe she "got a little cocky" in making such a high prediction, Mattingly remains hopeful county voters will vindicate it.

Klickitat County Auditor Brenda Sorenson and Kittitas County Auditor Jerry Pettit, who joined Reed and Mattingly at the Yakima County Courthouse for Tuesday's event, had similarly rosy predictions. Pettit expects 55 percent participation in Kittitas County, and Sorenson predicted 58 percent participation in Klickitat County.

"I'm just very enthusiastic," Reed said.

* Pat Muir can be reached at 577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.

The top-two, mail-ballot primary

* Voters have until Aug. 19 to return their ballots to the Yakima County Auditor's Office on the main floor of the county courthouse, 128 N. Second St. They may be delivered or mailed by that day. If mailed, they do not necessarily have to arrive at the county office by that day.

* Voters may select candidates from any party and do not have to declare an allegiance to one or the other.

* Candidates list their preferred party, but that does not mean they are endorsed by that party.

* The top two candidates, regardless of party, advance to the Nov. 4 general election.

* For more information, go to www.yakimacounty.us/vote or www.vote.wa.gov

* As of Tuesday, the Auditor's Office had received 16,903 of the 93,976 ballots it sent to registered voters, or 17.99 percent. That number is expected to reach 48 percent, according to Yakima County Auditor Corky Mattingly.

* People with questions can call the county auditor's office at 509-574-1400 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• Jobs
  www.yakjobs.com
• Homes
  www.yakhomes.com
• 
• 
  
• Autos
  www.yakwheels.com

• All Special Pubs Channels YakJobs.com YakWheels.com YakHomes.com Playdate Yakima Bride Yakima Wheels (Print) Home Buyer's Guide Baby Brag Book Graduates 2009 Summer in the Valley Prep Football 2009 Women in Business
• Advertisement