Election Day: Time for voters to do their part

TUESDAY is Primary Election Day, a potentially quiet affair because it is the first major all-vote-by-mail election in King County. Voters can make it a bit noisier by filling in ballots and dropping them in the mail or drop-off box.

Supporters of various candidates will be waving signs and engaging in other traditional election-day hoopla. But this August primary, only the third in the middle of summer, might make for an unusual voting experience.

King County elections officials hold firm to a projection of 33 percent turnout, though they concede that might be overly optimistic.

Voters who still have primary ballots lying around the kitchen table should take a moment to participate. Fill in the bubbles. Sign the ballots. Affix the stamps. Head to the post office or drop-off box in time to be counted.

Even if feels like a sleeper election, two of the biggest jobs in local government are on the line. The primary determines which two candidates advance to the November general election in the Seattle mayoral race and King County executive race.

The primary is not only about setting the stage for November. It is the only time to vote up or down on the 20-cent grocery-bag fee. There are important school board, Port and court races.

There are just enough important races on the ballot to shake off the summer blahs. Fill out the ballots and send them on their way.