PORT TOWNSEND — With 2,272 ballots received since Tuesday, voter turnout will surpass the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office general election estimate.
County Auditor Donna Eldridge said the additional ballots increase voter turnout to 66.85 percent, or 14,238 ballots out of the 21,299 mailed.
Returns are exceeding the 63 percent voter turnout estimate Eldridge sent to Secretary of State Sam Reed’s office.
The Auditor’s Office’s second vote count is scheduled for 1 p.m. today, Eldridge said.
“(Wednesday) was a catch-up day for things that had to be done,” Eldridge said of her elections staff, which was verifying signatures Wednesday, then opening and removing newly returned ballots for pre-inspection before counting them.
Eldridge said “stragglers” are expected to return later from out-of-state and military absentee voters.
Her staff must duplicate 180 ballots that were mismarked or changed to make them legal.
“Pretty much we’ll be done after tomorrow’s count,” she said.