Primary Voter Participation in King County: Quantifying the number of individuals exercising their voting rights
The primary election in Seattle and King County is underway, with key contests including the Seattle mayor's race, the election for King County executive, and the Seattle city attorney election. As of late Monday afternoon, approximately 18% of voters had returned their ballots for the primary election, suggesting a moderate turnout so far.
In the Seattle mayor's race, incumbent Bruce Harrell faces challenges from Katie Wilson, Joe Mallahan, and Ry Armstrong. Meanwhile, the King County executive race features an eight-person field, with progressive members of the Metropolitan King County Council, Claudia Balducci and Girmay Zahilay, among the candidates.
Voters in Seattle and King County have the option of returning their ballots by mail, postmarked by Aug. 5, or dropping them off at a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on election day. According to estimates, roughly 58% of King County ballots were returned by mail, and 42% at a ballot drop box.
Early returns indicate that turnout among older voters is higher than among younger voters. More than 36% of voters over age 65 have voted, compared to 8% of voters age 18-24. An estimated voter turnout for the primary election is about 35%, a slight increase from the 31% turnout in the 2023 primary.
The most popular ballot drop box locations, as of now, are Redmond City Hall, Ballard Library, and Crossroads Shopping Center in Bellevue. However, detailed precinct-level data on drop box locations and usage have not been summarized publicly yet.
County election officials began releasing vote tallies around August 6, and results remain unofficial until county certifications (expected August 19) and final state certification (August 22). Once the final results are in, a clearer picture of voter turnout by city, voting methods, and popular ballot drop boxes will emerge.
For more information about the election and how to submit a ballot on the last day of voting, visit: https://st.news/VoterGuide2025
Sources: 1. King5 News 2. Crosscut 3. The Seattle Times 4. KUOW 5. Pierce County Elections
- Bellevue, located in Washington state, has one of the most popular ballot drop box locations in King County during the primary election, along with Redmond City Hall and Ballard Library.
- Despite the moderate turnout so far in the Seattle primary election, older voters are showing a higher voter turnout rate compared to younger voters, with more than 36% of voters over age 65 having voted, contrasted with 8% of voters age 18-24.
- The Seattle mayor's race in the primary election includes incumbent Bruce Harrell, Katie Wilson, Joe Mallahan, and Ry Armstrong, while the King County executive race features an eight-person field, with Claudia Balducci and Girmay Zahilay as progressive members of the Metropolitan King County Council among the candidates.
- Weather and climate may not be a significant talking point in the Seattle area's primary election, but keeping up with local politics, such as the Seattle mayor's race and King County executive race, might be on the minds of Seattle residents amid the election season.
