Spate of errors subsides, Snohomish County voters fill out ballot correctly

As Election Day drew closer, Snohomish County voters seemed to get steadily smarter — or at least, better informed.

Last week, a random sampling of ballots returned to the county revealed the state's highest error rate. About 20 percent of voters failed to declare a party affiliation, so their votes couldn't legally be tallied for partisan races.

The resulting publicity turned that trend around, said county Auditor Bob Terwilliger.

The percentage of faulty ballots dropped day by day, he said, reaching 5 percent among ballots received Monday.

By the time all ballots arrive, the faulty-ballot rate could drop below 10 percent, Terwilliger said.

Although the primary was the county's first all-mail election, it presented little change for most voters. All but 35 percent of registered voters already had signed up for absentee ballots, Terwilliger said.

Voter turnout throughout the state was predicted to reach 35 percent. By Tuesday afternoon, Snohomish County had received about 93,000 ballots, representing 28 percent of its registered voters.

Terwilliger's office plans to count additional ballots every day this week and certify results Sept. 29.

The county's other ballot snafu remained unresolved. After ballots were mailed to voters Aug. 30, election officials learned an estimated 85 percent were slightly too heavy for a single 39-cent, first-class stamp.

Although the county agreed to pay the estimated $21,000 difference in postage, Terwilliger remained hopeful the U.S. Postal Service might waive the additional cost.

By late Tuesday afternoon, the county had collected more than 20,000 additional ballots that arrived too late for the first tally.

Those ballots could make the difference in the race for the Snohomish County Public Utility District board. Incumbent Kathy Vaughn was taking about half of the vote in her three-way primary race, ensuring her place in the November general election. Eric Teegarden was barely outpolling Michael Plunkett for the other position in the general election.

Woodway residents were overwhelmingly rejecting a proposal to join the Sno-Isle Library District. If the town were annexed into the district, homeowners would be taxed $42.30 per $100,000 of assessed property value, or $244 per year for a $577,000 home.

Woodway is the only community in the county that doesn't have library check-out privileges.

The next judge in Everett District Court will be Tam Bui, Lorrie Towers or David Hulbert, based on early ballot returns.

Five judges and lawyers are vying for the open seat, with the two top primary winners moving to the November election.

While Bui was leading the pack, her lead over Towers and Hulbert wasn't significant.

Diane Brooks: 425-745-7802 or dbrooks@seattletimes.com