WA primary certified

Summary

Asotin County Auditor says turnout was surprisingly high for presidential primary.

Story Published: Mar 5, 2008 at 11:22 PM PST

Story Updated: Mar 5, 2008 at 11:22 PM PST

ASOTIN – It was made official Wednesday, with Hillary Clinton and John McCain winning the Washington presidential primary in Asotin County

Wednesday morning Asotin County Auditor Elaine Johnston, Deputy Prosecutor Joe Jackson and County Commissioner Buck Lane certified the February election.

Over 6,000 people sent in their ballots, putting voter turnout at 55 percent.

"In the past, the presidential primary hasn't gotten any support at all," said Johnston. "In fact, most years we cancel it, because no one wants to vote in it and it doesn't make that much difference. So, I was really surprised we had 55 percent and that just wasn't because of the levy either."

The Asotin-Anatone School District levy passed with over 60 percent yes votes.

Johnston said the election went surprisingly smooth.

"They did a really good job," she said. "The biggest share of them we got to count because they marked their party on the outside of the envelope. There were just under 600 that didn't mark a party. We couldn't count those, unless they were in the Asotin School District and then we just counted the school district one. I thought people did a really good job, not much complaining."

Johnston said the most complaints came from people who don't want to pick a party for the primary election.

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