Voter turnout over 74 percent in Clallam, 80 percent in Jefferson

Voter turnout after a second count of general election ballots on Wednesday swelled to 74 percent in Clallam County and to 80.12 percent in Jefferson County.

Statewide as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, voter turnout was at 71.35 percent.

Jefferson County, which historically boasts top voter turnouts in the state, was on Wednesday behind Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille and Whatcom counties.

The Clallam County Auditor counted 42,720 ballots out of the 57,695 provided voters and the Jefferson County Auditor counted 22,194 ballots out of 27,701 provided voters.

The next counts of ballots will be by 4:30 p.m. today in Clallam County, which has about 4,000 more ballots to count, and by 4 p.m. Friday in Jefferson County, which estimated 2,563 ballots left to count.

Votes were still being counted throughout the nation as of Wednesday, after a record-breaking participation.

The Associated Press projected a total vote of 173 million. Final results in the presidential election could take days.

Clallam County law enforcement officials provided added security at ballot drop boxes between mid-October and Tuesday and are continuing to do so at the courthouse, Sheriff’s Office Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King said Wednesday.

King said there were no threats of disruptive behavior toward election personnel who collected ballots at drop boxes across the county or at the courthouse while ballots are being tallied.

Security was provided by agencies countywide after area residents expressed concerns that attempts would be made to disrupt the election, King said.