County general election turnout this year was a 16-year low

Thursday, November 14, 2024
by Jeff Noedel

Despite one of the starkest choices between presidential candidates in decades, voter turnout across Washington was down.

In San Juan County, turnout was the lowest in five presidential elections across 16 years.

“I’m not in a position to express an opinion,” Camolyn Armstrong told SanJuans/Today. She is the County election manager. Her job is to provide secure, efficient elections and not to speculate on factors in turnout.

Still, 85 percent turnout is excellent. San Juan County is always in the upper echelon of voter turnout among the 39 counties in The Evergreen State.

The only county to regularly compete with ours is Jefferson County (Port Townsend). And this year, Jefferson slightly bested San Juan County for turnout with an estimated 86.79 percent.

Said Armstong, “Yeah, I’m probably going to owe someone a drink over that.”