Fall ballots in the mail

MOSES LAKE - Today marks the beginning of the end of Washington's 2012 election season.

Friday is the last day for county auditor's offices to get ballots in the mail for November's general election.

Voters will have 19 days to fill out and return ballots, which must be postmarked by election day, Nov. 6.

Officials from Grant County reported 36,189 ballots in the mail this election season. Adams County said between 6,000 and 7,000 ballots were issued.

Anyone not receiving a ballot by early next week should contact their respective auditor's office.

Outgoing state Secretary of State Sam Reed said he expects a "robust voter turnout of 81 percent in the general election." The state's average is 79.2 percent for presidential/gubernatorial year turnouts. The state has most registered voters in its history, 3.85 million, and some of the nation's hotly contested ballot measures of the season, Reed said.

Washington voters will decide on legalizing marijuana, same-sex marriage, charter schools and several tax and state funding issues. Also, presidential elections tend to draw more people to the polls, he said.