Ballots due tomorrow; several races still tight

OLYMPIA - State and local elections officials have been ramping up for the past few weeks to deal with the deluge of ballots flowing in.

It should, hopefully, all come to a close Tuesday after most votes have been counted.

The "hopefully" is there because Washington's co-Director of Elections Katie Blinn said races that are considered "too close to call" may take as long as Friday to determine. That could mean another 2004 Gregoire versus Rossi-like tussle before deciding Washington's next governor.

Democrat Jay Inslee and Republican Rob McKenna remain virtually neck-in-neck in the polls leading to tomorrow, which they have been throughout the race. While most pollsters say Inslee still has a slight lead Friday, Washington's gubernatorial race is one of the tightest in the nation.

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are also in a dead heat in the polls in the days leading up to the election.

Anyone needing to turn in ballots must do so tomorrow, either by 8 p.m. in a Grant or Adams county ballot drop box or have ballots postmarked by Tuesday.

The ballot includes several races, including presidential, senate, congressional, six legislative races in Grant and Adams counties, two state senate bids in the two counties, eight statewide ballot measures, nine state executive seats, and dozens of local and county races.

The Secretary of State's Office announced Friday that a record number of Washingtonians have registered to vote: just above 3.9 million. Nearly 180,000 of those voters have registered or reactivated their voter registrations since the August primary election.

Of that number, 36,542 voters are active in Grant County and 6,453 in Adams County, the office said.

Statewide, the ballot return rate was roughly 38 percent as of Thursday. Blinn said this could indicate an overall turnout about 81 percent, which Secretary of State Sam Reed predicted earlier.

Counties have until Nov. 27 to certify results, and the state has until Dec. 5.