By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Washington State consistently ranks among the top states in voter turnout, thanks to its voter-friendly policies like vote-by-mail and extensive public outreach. In recent years, Washington’s election system has helped drive turnout, placing it within the top ten states nationwide. Yet, despite these successes, election officials agree that more can be done to engage voters and improve participation across all communities.
A recent study by JeffBet, which analyzed voter participation rates across the U.S. between 2014 and 2022, ranked Washington tenth in voter turnout, with 59.7% of eligible voters casting ballots. By comparison, Oregon, the top state, saw 70% of eligible voters participate. Other high-performing states include Maine with 63.8%, Minnesota at 63.7%, Michigan at 63.3%, and the District of Columbia at 62.9%. Vermont, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania also made the top ten, with turnout ranging between 60% and 62.2%.
“Here in King County, we have high turnout rates for a few reasons,” explains King County Elections officials. “Because we, like all voters in Washington, vote by mail, the process is straightforward. Voters automatically receive their ballots in the mail, and they have ample time to research the issues, make their choices, and return their ballots.” The county provides over 80 secure ballot drop boxes, along with postage-paid return options via the U.S. Postal Service.
Washington’s transition to mail-in ballots has been a key driver of increased participation. Before the statewide adoption of vote-by-mail in 2008, voter turnout fluctuated. In King County, the 2004 general election saw an impressive 83% turnout, but off-year elections showed more modest engagement, such as 2007’s 47% participation rate. With vote-by-mail, turnout in general elections surged, reaching 84.6% statewide and 83.93% in King County in 2008. The trend continued, with slight variations, in subsequent years. Despite Washington’s consistent ranking among the states with the highest voter participation, voter engagement during primary elections has historically been lower. In 2004, only 46% of King County voters turned out for the primary election, and by 2007, that figure dropped to 25%.
While general election turnout remains robust, participation during non-presidential election years and primaries presents an area for potential improvement.
Election officials, including Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, are pushing to build on Washington’s strong foundation. Hobbs’s office launched a public awareness campaign designed to counter misinformation and educate voters about the security of Washington’s election system.
“The Mark the Ballot education campaign goes beyond encouraging people to participate in elections,” says Greg Tito, Deputy Director of External Affairs. “Mark the Ballot points voters to trusted sources of information within the community, including their local election offices.”
The campaign, which is featured on billboards, social media, radio, and television, emphasizes election integrity and transparency. Washington election officials have also partnered with Seattle’s major sports teams, including the Mariners, Seahawks, and Kraken, to engage broader audiences.
“We’re utilizing messaging developed for Mark the Ballot for our partnership with Seattle sports teams,” says Tito. “The partnerships allow us to reach an audience unique to each team.”
This blend of public education, partnerships, and a voter-friendly election system has allowed Washington to become a leader in voter turnout. Yet, the state is still pushing for higher participation, particularly among underrepresented groups.
Despite Washington’s success, it still lags behind states like Oregon and Colorado, which have higher participation rates. According to JeffBet officials, these states benefit from similarly accessible voting systems but continue to excel due to aggressive outreach and engagement strategies.
“The high voter turnout in states like Oregon and Colorado illustrates the positive impact of accessible voting systems,” the report notes. “These states show that making voting easier, such as through vote-by-mail, significantly boosts participation.”
According to election officials in King County, removing challenges and barrier are the keys to Washington state’s success in voter turnout. While the turnout rate for Washington is good, election officials continue to do extensive outreach and education during and between election cycles in an effort to increase voter participation even more.