Turnout in the August election reached the highest level for a primary in six years, but participation did not meet pre-election estimates.

The all-mail election attracted 39 percent of King County voters. King County Elections had forecast 45 percent turnout before the election. The office tallied 421,157 ballots.

The county Canvassing Board met Wednesday to certify the results of the Aug. 17 contest.

“We saw a respectable rate of participation considering this was not a presidential election year,” county Elections Director Sherril Huff said in a news release. “We were able to process ballots very efficiently and got some great support from many voters who returned their ballots early.”

Some ballots could not be counted due to issues with the voter signature. Ballots returned after Election Day — 8,800 in all — could not be counted.

Ballots for the Nov. 2 general election go into the mail Oct. 13. The deadline to update voter registration information for the election is Oct. 4. People can register in person through Oct. 25.

The final results differed little from earlier tallies.

State Rep. Glenn Anderson retained a large lead against David Spring — 58 percent of the vote for the Fall City Republican legislator, compared to 25 percent for Spring, a North Bend Democrat. The candidates faced off to represent the 5th Legislative District in 2008.

State Rep. Judy Clibborn preserved a commanding lead against Bellevue Republican Stephen Strader — 56 percent for the Mercer Island Democrat and 38 percent for Strader.

Newcastle attorney Donna Tucker and Redmond City Prosecutor Larry Mitchell headed into the race for a post on the King County District Court bench — 45 percent for Tucker to 34 percent for Mitchell.

The court handles traffic infractions, misdemeanor criminal offenses and some civil cases. The district includes Issaquah and most of eastern and northeastern King County.

The elections office plans to release the results of precinct committee officer races Sept. 13. The officers serve as local party representative in their neighborhoods.

The ceremonial support for the Citizens’ Elections Oversight Committee came as King County Elections continues to tally ballots from the Aug. 17 primary.

The contest between former state Sen. Dino Rossi, a Republican, and then-Attorney General Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, dragged on through recounts and a court challenge. In the end, Gregoire edged out Rossi by 133 votes.

County Council members created the watchdog group in 2003 to oversee elections and improve performance and accountability at the then-King County Elections Division.

The council made the oversight group permanent in 2006. The committee has offered more than 180 recommendations to improve King County elections.

The county has implemented many of the recommendations, and changes to state and federal elections laws covered several others.

Former Issaquah Mayor A.J. Culver serves on the committee as the Municipal League of King County representative. The council appoints the members to represent voters, the major political parties, civic groups and government agencies.

State Rep. Glenn Anderson and Democrat David Spring faced off in the last election. Spring fell short to the Republican incumbent by about 2,200 votes. They meet again in the November election.

Sammamish Democrat Dean Willard — the candidate endorsed by the local and state party — failed to advance beyond the Aug. 17 primary, despite raising more money than Anderson and Spring combined.

Fall City resident Anderson received 58 percent of the vote, compared to 25 percent for North Bend resident Spring. Willard received 17 percent.

The district includes Issaquah, North Bend, Snoqualmie and other Eastside communities.

In the neighboring legislative district, state Rep. Judy Clibborn held a double-digit lead over Bellevue Republican Stephen Strader, a first-time candidate. Clibborn, a four-term Democrat and Mercer Island resident, led in the contest, 56 percent to 38 percent. Independent candidate Orion Webster mustered 5 percent.

Clibborn represents Talus, other Cougar Mountain communities and unincorporated King County in the Issaquah area.

Incumbents lead in congressional contests

Democrat Suzan DelBene, a former Microsoft executive and Medina resident, outdistanced several long-shot candidates to face Congressman Dave Reichert in November.

Reichert, a former King County sheriff and Auburn resident, opened a big lead against DelBene: 47 percent to 27 percent.

Observers expect a close election in the race to represent Issaquah and the 8th Congressional District. No Democrat has represented the district that stretches across eastern King and Pierce counties.

Reichert led DelBene 46 percent to 29 percent in King County.

Republican Dino Rossi — the former Issaquah representative in the state Senate — and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray cleared a crowded primary field in the U.S. Senate race.

Murray led statewide: 46 percent for the incumbent Democrat and 33 percent for Rossi. Murray held a larger lead in King County: 59 percent to 27 percent.

Primary sets race for judge

Newcastle attorney Donna Tucker and Redmond City Prosecutor Larry Mitchell surged past Mercer Island attorney Ketu Shah in the race for a post on the King County District Court bench.

Tucker led the field at 45 percent, Mitchell placed in the No. 2 slot at 34 percent and Shah trailed at 21 percent.

The contest between Tucker and Mitchell aims to fill a position created by the county last year to address a growing caseload.

King County District Court is the largest court of limited jurisdiction in the state. The bustling court handles traffic infractions, misdemeanor criminal offenses and some civil cases. The district includes Issaquah, Sammamish, Bellevue, Redmond, Woodinville and parts of unincorporated King County.

Warren Kagarise: 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.

Register to vote

King County residents must register to vote by late October in order to cast a ballot in the Nov. 2 election.

The deadline to register online or by mail is Oct. 4. Register to vote in person by Oct. 25. Registered voters should also update outdated information before the deadlines.

In order to register, a person must be a U.S. citizen, a Washington resident, at least 18 by Election Day and not under the authority of the state Department of Corrections.

Voters do not have to register by political party or declare political party membership to vote in primary or general elections.

Find a full list of requirements and registration forms at the King County Elections website.

King County Council members offered praise Monday for the citizen committee responsible for restoring confidence in the county elections office after the disputed 2004 race for governor.

The ceremonial support for the Citizens’ Elections Oversight Committee came, as King County Elections continues to tally ballots from the Aug. 17 primary.

“People expect their government to carry out certain basic tasks accurately; elections being a prime example,” council Vice Chairwoman Jane Hague, the sponsor of the motion and the sponsor of the legislation to create the committee, said in a news release. “The CEOC has had significant success in restoring voter confidence in King County Elections. I’m proud of what we have accomplished, especially since the 2004 debacle. ”

The contest between former state Sen. Dino Rossi, a Republican, and then-Attorney General Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, dragged on through recounts and a court challenge. In the end, Gregoire edged out Rossi by 133 votes.

County Council members created the watchdog group in 2003 to oversee elections and improve performance and accountability at the then-King County Elections Division.

“Since its creation in 2003, the oversight committee has provided sound recommendations and helped King County restore public trust in our elections process,” council Chairman Bob Ferguson said in the release.

The council made the oversight group permanent in 2006. The committee has offered more than 180 recommendations to improve King County elections.

The county has implemented many of the recommendations, and changes to state and federal elections laws covered several others.

Former Issaquah Mayor A.J. Culver serves on the committee as the Municipal League of King County representative. The council appoints the members to represent voters, the major political parties, civic groups and government agencies.

Culver served as mayor from 1982-89, as the city increased by about 2,300 people to 7,900 residents.

State Rep. Glenn Anderson maintained a solid lead against Democrats David Spring and Dean Willard in election results released Wednesday afternoon.

Anderson received 58 percent of the vote, compared to 25 percent for Spring. Willard — the candidate endorsed by local and state Democrats — trailed at 16 percent.

The results set up a rematch between Fall City resident Anderson and North Bend resident Spring. The candidates faced off in 2008 for the opportunity to represent Issaquah and other Eastside communities. Spring fell short by about 2,200 votes.

In the neighboring legislative district, state Rep. Judy Clibborn held a double-digit lead over Bellevue Republican Stephen Strader, a first-time candidate. Clibborn, a four-term Democrat and Mercer Island resident, led in the contest, 53 percent to 39 percent.

Clibborn represents Talus, other Cougar Mountain communities and unincorporated King County in the Issaquah area.

Incumbents lead in congressional contests

Democrat Suzan DelBene, a former Microsoft executive and Medina resident, outdistanced several long-shot candidates to face Congressman Dave Reichert in November.

Reichert, a former King County sheriff and Auburn resident, opened a big lead against DelBene: 48 percent to 26 percent.

Observers expect a close election in the race to represent Issaquah and the 8th Congressional District. No Democrat has represented the district that stretches across eastern King and Pierce counties.

Reichert led DelBene 47 percent to 29 percent in King County.

Republican Dino Rossi — the former Issaquah representative in the state Senate — and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray cleared a crowded primary field.

Murray led in the latest statewide results: 46 percent for the incumbent Democrat and 34 percent for Rossi.

Murray held a larger lead in King County: 58 percent to 28 percent.

Primary sets race for judge

Newcastle attorney Donna Tucker and Redmond City Prosecutor Larry Mitchell surged past Mercer Island attorney Ketu Shah in the race for a post on the King County District Court bench.

Tucker led the field at 45 percent. Mitchell placed in the No. 2 slot at 35 percent. Shah trailed at 20 percent in the latest results.

The contest between Tucker and Mitchell aims to fill a position created by the county last year to address a growing caseload.

King County District Court is the largest court of limited jurisdiction in the state.

The bustling court handles traffic infractions, misdemeanor criminal offenses and some civil cases. The district includes Issaquah, Sammamish, Bellevue, Redmond, Woodinville and parts of unincorporated King County.

Election updates to continue

King County Elections received the largest mail return in a single day for the current election Wednesday; about 95,000 ballots arrived at the Tukwila headquarters.

“It was exciting to see so many ballots arrive today,” Elections Director Sherril Huff said in a statement. “Typically, Election Day is associated with the highest number of ballot arrivals. We’re processing the ballots as quickly as possible, and expect to include an additional 40,000 in the results report today.”

Tuesday marked the deadline to mail or drop off a primary ballot.

Expect the next round of results at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The elections office plans daily updates until all ballots have been counted.

Huff had predicted 45 percent turnout among King County voters in the all-mail primary. Secretary of State Sam Reed — the top election officer in the state — had forecast 38 percent turnout statewide.

The results remain unofficial until the county Canvassing Board meets Sept. 1 to certify the election.

Incumbent candidates outpaced challengers in the initial election results released Tuesday night.

The primary set up a showdown for a 5th Legislative District seat in the state House of Representatives, a competitive congressional race and a chance to elect a judge to the King County District Court bench.

State Rep. Glenn Anderson, a Republican, outpolled Democrats Dean Willard and David Spring. Anderson polled 58 percent, Spring polled 25 percent and Willard polled 16 percent.

Unless Willard pulls ahead as ballots trickle in during the days ahead, the race will be a rematch of the 2008 contest between Anderson and Spring.

The district encompasses most of Issaquah, including downtown and the Issaquah Highlands. The boundaries also include North Bend and Snoqualmie, plus parts of Maple Valley, Sammamish and unincorporated King County.

District voters sent Anderson to Olympia in 2000 and re-elected the Fall City resident in subsequent elections.

State Rep. Judy Clibborn, a Mercer Island Democrat seeking a fifth term, outpaced Stephen Strader, a Bellevue Republican, and independent Orion S. Webster.

Clibborn represents the 41st Legislative District — Talus and other Cougar Mountain communities, plus Mercer Island, Newcastle and parts of Bellevue, Renton and unincorporated King County.

The incumbent led Strader by about 55 percent to about 40 percent to set up the general election contest. Webster, like Strader, a political newcomer, trailed at 5 percent.

Congressman Dave Reichert pulled ahead of a crowded field, including the Democrat, former Microsoft and Drugstore.com executive Suzan DelBene. Reichert, a former King County sheriff, led DelBene by about 47 percent to about 28 percent. Longshot candidates rounded out the field.

Observers expect a close election, as DelBene seeks to become the first Democrat to represent the 8th Congressional District. Though Reichert has come close to defeat in the past, political analysts said he has a stronger hand in November.

The congressional district sprawls across eastern King and Pierce counties from the Snohomish County line up north to the Lewis County line in the south.

Dino Rossi — the former Issaquah representative in the state Senate and the Republican nominee for governor in 2004 and 2008 — trailed U.S. Sen. Patty Murray on election night. Rossi is due to face the Democrat in November in another contest drawing national attention.

Murray amassed 30 percentage points over Rossi in King County — 58 percent to 28 percent. Statewide, Murray led Rossi by about 49 percent to 33 percent in a crowded primary.

Newcastle attorney Donna Tucker and Redmond City Prosecutor Larry Mitchell surged past Mercer Island attorney Ketu Shah in the race for District Court judge.

Tucker pulled in 45 percent and Mitchell garnered about 35 percent. The candidates face off in the November election. Shah trailed at about 20 percent.

The county created the position last year to address a growing caseload.

The bustling court handles traffic infractions, misdemeanor criminal offenses and some civil cases. The district includes Issaquah, Sammamish, Bellevue, Redmond, Woodinville and parts of unincorporated King County.

King County Elections released the initial results just after 8 p.m. Tuesday, the last day to postmark or drop off a primary ballot. Elections Director Sherril Huff had predicted 45 percent turnout in the summer primary.

The results in the initial tally represent 243,775 ballots.

Expect the next round of results at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The elections office plans daily updates until all ballots have been counted.

The results remain unofficial until the county Canvassing Board meets Sept. 1 to certify the election. Final results should be posted to the elections website by noon Sept. 1.

The elections office started to receive marked ballots days after the office mailed blank forms to voters in late July. The agency starts processing ballots upon receipt, but law prohibits elections staffers from tabulating results before 8 p.m. on Election Day. In the run-up to the deadline, staffers opened ballots and reviewed voter signatures in a secure location at the elections office in Tukwila.

If a signature problem arises, staffers contact voters to resolve the issue in order for the ballot to be counted.

King County Elections should include about 230,000 ballots in the unofficial count released Election Day — Tuesday — Director Sherril Huff announced Friday.

The elections office had received about 220,000 ballots by Friday. The agency mailed 1.1 million ballots to voters in late July. The elections office estimates a return rate of about 45 percent — or about 495,000 ballots.

“The early returns have been very helpful to us in preparing for Election Day,” Huff said in a statement.  “I’m estimating a count of about 230,000 ballots in the results report on Tuesday night.”

The initial results will be posted on the elections website at 8:15 p.m. Election Day, and updated on subsequent days at 4:30 p.m.

The early results will include ballots mailed during the weekend. Typically, the late ballots do not arrive in time to be included in the first round of results reporting.

The election office reminded voters to sign the oath on the back of the return envelope and to get their ballot in the mail by Aug. 17. The office has also set up drop boxes for voters to return ballots by 8 p.m. Election Day.

“This is also a time when we reach out to voters who have forgotten to sign their ballots or who have a problem with their signature,” Huff said. “So if you are contacted by the elections department, be sure to follow up as soon as possible, even if Election Day has passed.”

Ballots returned on time can still be counted if signature problems can be resolved before the election is certified Sept. 1.

The statewide trade association for the commercial construction industry has named state Rep. Judy Clibborn as Legislator of the Year.

Clibborn, a four-term Democrat and former Mercer Island mayor, represents Talus, southwest Issaquah and Cougar Mountain communities as part of the 41st Legislative District.

Gene Colin, government affairs council chairman for Associated General Contractors, said Clibborn “gets it.”

“She understands that an efficient and adequate transportation system is good for the economy and the environment,” Colin said in a news release.

Clibborn is the chairwoman of the powerful House Transportation Committee. The trade association lauded Clibborn for helping to block legislation for added requirements to use subcontractors. The association described the measure as ill conceived and costly.

“Her contribution and support of our goals goes way beyond transportation,” Rick Slunaker, government affairs director for the group, said in the release. “Rep. Clibborn understands the importance of and has helped lead efforts to reform workers’ compensation laws and to save taxpayer dollars by opposing unworkable public contracting requirements.”

Clibborn, elected unopposed in 2008, is set to face Stephen Strader, a Bellevue Republican, or independent candidate Orion S. Webster in the Nov. 2 election. Voters will pick the top two candidates in the Tuesday primary.

King County Elections offers three drop boxes for voters to cast ballots in person. The drop boxes in Seattle and Tukwila provide a secure option to return a mail ballot, without paying the cost of postage.

Find the drop boxes at the King County Administration Building, 500 Fourth Ave., Seattle, and the elections office, 9010 E. Marginal Way S., Tukwila. Ballots must be returned to the boxes by 8 p.m. Aug. 17 or postmarked by the same day.

Elections staffers regularly collect ballots from the boxes and transport them to the elections office.

Voters with disabilities can also cast a private and independent ballot at accessible voting centers in Bellevue, Seattle and Tukwila.

Equipment at the sites provides audio and visual technology to allow voters with limited vision and physical disabilities to vote on their own.

The center at the elections office is open from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 16. The center at Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave. N.E., is open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Aug. 16. In Seattle, the center at Union Station, 401 S. Jackson St., is also open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Aug. 16. On Election Day, the three centers operate from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

King County Elections has a message for voters: Refrain from writing in frivolous candidates on primary ballots.

In a video posted to the elections office website Monday, the agency offered that and other last-minute tips to voters a week before the Aug. 17 deadline to mail ballots.

Elections Director Sherril Huff has predicted about 45 percent of the 1.1 million King County voters will cast a ballot in the primary.

Remember to sign the oath on the back of the return envelope in order for the ballot to be opened and counted.

The office contacts voters with signature problems to attempt to resolve the issues in time for their ballots to be counted.

Track returned ballots here to determine if a ballot has been received and processed. Voters who have not yet received their ballots should contact the elections office at 206-296-8683.