Clark County voter turnout projected at 51 percent

Of the 249,277 eligible Clark County voters, 58,039, or 23 percent, have cast their vote so far. Clark County Elections Supervisor Cathie Garber has projected about 51 percent of the electorate will vote this midterm election.

“There is a lot that goes into the process to make sure every person’s vote counts, and to see such a small turnout, it’s disappointing,” Garber said.

In the Nov. 2012 general election, the turnout was nearly 80 percent.

There is much to be decided this time. A controversial home rule charter on the ballot could alter the county’s structure of governance. For the first time in nearly three decades, Clark County residents will choose a new sheriff. They also will fill an open seat on the county commission.

Voters will also weigh in on two controversial gun measures and choose who they want to represent them in Olympia and in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Typically, voters turn in about half of all eventual ballots the weekend before the election, according to Dave Ammons, spokesman for the secretary of state’s office.

Voters must have their ballots postmarked by Tuesday or dropped in ballot boxes by 8 p.m. that day in order to be counted.

There is some confusion, Garber said, because in Oregon voters must mail their ballots by today in order to get them to elections offices by Tuesday. In Washington, as long as ballots are postmarked by Tuesday, they will count.