Higher voter turnout in presidential primary

OLYMPIA - Voter turnout during the primary presidential election this year may have set a record.

Secretary of State Sam Reed said approximately 43 percent of registered voters participated in the primary election this year. He said it is slightly higher than previous elections.

Reed spoke before editors and publishers of newspapers in Olympia Feb. 28.

The secretary said voters were more likely to vote in counties with mail-in ballot systems. He said a county on the west side of the state had a 5 percent turn out at the polls among registered voters.

Close to 10 percent of registered voters attended party caucuses this year throughout the state, Reed added.

He said he previously expected an election controversy concerning the requirement for voters to sign an oath of party affiliation for their vote to be tabulated. Instead, the biggest election issue concerned the debate between party leaders about hosting caucuses.

It appeared many voters preferred the ballot system, Reed said.

When asked about the pros and cons of the electoral college system, he said one pro is a presidential candidate can win an election without the popular vote. A con about the electoral college is a candidate can campaign in large cities, neglecting smaller cities and still win the electoral vote.

He said it's important to keep a watch on where the candidates campaign to ensure they are fair.