PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County reached the second-highest voter turnout in the state for the Nov. 6 general election after the Auditor’s Office tallied 1,067 more ballots today.
The Jefferson County Auditor’s Office has received 20,046 ballots out of 22,756 issued, for a voter turnout of 88.09 percent, the second highest in the state after San Juan County’s 88.53 percent.
Clallam County reached a voter turnout of 81.87 percent, with 38,608 ballots received out of 47,157 issued.
The Jefferson County Auditor’s Office has 25 more ballots on hand. They will be counted before the election is certified Nov. 27.
Election outcomes were unchanged after today’s count.
Jefferson County still went solidly for President Barack Obama, with 12,700 votes, or 63.81 percent, to his Republican challenger Mitt Romney’s 6,390 votes, or 32.11 percent.
In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Maria Cantwell, a Democrat, received 13,435 votes, or 68.68 percent, to Republican challenger Michael Baumgartner’s 6,100 votes, or 31.18 percent.
In the latest count, Derek Kilmer, a Democrat, won 12,572 votes, or 66.16 percent for the 6th Congressional District — which includes Jefferson and Clallam counties — against Republican Bill Driscoll’s 6,388 votes, or 33.62 percent.
Democrat Jay Inslee also prevailed in Jefferson County as well as statewide for governor.
He took 12,146 votes, or 62.14 percent in Jefferson County to Republican Rob McKenna’s 7,356 votes, or 37.63 percent.
In the 24th District Legislative races, incumbents won not only district wide but also in Jefferson County.
Jefferson County totals are:
■ Incumbent State Sen. Jim Hargrove, a Democrat from Hoquiam, received 13,001 votes, or 70.14 percent, to the 5,473 votes, or 29.52 percent, won by Port Ludlow resident Larry Carter, who had no party preference.
■ Incumbent State Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, a Democrat from Sequim, received 13,064 votes or 71.22 percent, to the 5,234 votes or 28.53 percent, won by Independent Craig Durgan of Port Ludlow.
■ Incumbent State Rep. Steve Tharinger, a Sequim Democrat, received 12,398 votes, or 66.99 percent, to the 6,072 votes, or 32.81 percent, taken by Republican Steve Gale of Sequim.
Jefferson County Commissioner Phil Johnson of Port Townsend, a Democrat, won his reelection bid for the District 1 seat with 11,170 votes, or 59.88 percent, to the 7,439 votes, or 39.88 percent, won by Port Townsend Republican Geoff Masci.
Jefferson County Commissioner David Sullivan, a Democrat, won his bid for reelection to the District 2 seat with 10,780 votes, or 59.88 percent, to the 7,724 votes, or 41.65 percent, taken by Republican Tim Thomas of Irondale.
Today’s count did not change the outcome of a measure to continue a property tax levy in the Jefferson County Parks & Recreation District No. 1 in Coyle.
It still failed despite a vote of 163 votes, or 56.21 percent, in favor to 127 votes, or 43.79 percent, opposed, because a 60 percent supermajority was required for passage.
Brinnon voters approved the creation of a parks district with 492 votes, or 61.65 percent, approving it, to 306 votes, or 38.35 percent, opposing it.
Jefferson County continued to vote against charter schools, which were approved statewide, and in favor of marijuana legalization and same-sex marriages, both of which were OK’d statewide.
Initiative 1185, which continues a requirement for the Legislature to get a two-thirds majority vote to raise taxes, won both statewide and in Jefferson County, where it received 10,182 votes, or 54.13 percent, in favor and 8,629 votes or 45.87 percent opposed,
The county vote on Initiative 1240, which creates a charter school system, was 10,126 votes, or 52.87 percent, against to 9,027 votes, or 47.13 percent, in favor.
Referendum 74, which legalizes same sex marriage, received 12,182 votes, or 54.13 percent, in favor and 7,076 votes, or 34.89 percent, opposed in Jefferson County.
Initiative 502, legalizing marijuana, won county approval of 12,736 votes, or 65.20 percent, to 6,798 votes, or 34.8 percent, opposed,
Initiative 8221, which concerns university investments, was rejected in Jefferson County by 10,147 votes, or 57.25 percent, against to 7,577 votes, or 42.75 percent, approving.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
