Wash. voter turnout sets record at over 84 percent

Voters wait in line at their polling place in Tacoma, Wash., Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.

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Story Published: Nov 27, 2008 at 2:53 PM PDT

By Associated Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Voter turnout in this year's election has set a state record.

Washington's 39 counties certified their election results Tuesday evening, showing a record turnout of 84.61 percent. That barely beats the record from 1944, which was about 84.54 percent.

The state has 3.63 million registered voters, and nearly 3.1 million ballots have been counted since the Nov. 4 election. It's the first time that more than 3 million Washingtonians voted in one election.

Secretary of State Sam Reed attributes the high turnout to the presidential contest, and competitive state races for governor and other offices. Reed says heavy get-out-the-vote efforts and high use of mail-in ballots also pushed turnout.

Reed will certify the results Dec. 4.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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