Secretary of State Sam Reed is predicting a better-than-usual turnout for the Top 2 Primary that gets under way next week.

Reed, the state’s chief elections officer, on Thursday forecast a 46-percent turnout – better than the 43-percent average for comparable presidential/gubernatorial years in recent decades.

The primary concludes Aug. 7. Voting will be entirely by mail.

“The people of Washington are pretty revved up by the campaigns and issues this year and that should result in a darned good turnout, starting with our primary election,” Reed said. “We have an extremely competitive presidential race nationally and the media, campaigns, parties and special interest groups have been flooding us with campaign coverage and voter information.

“Likewise, in this state, we have one of the nation’s hottest races for governor and we have an unusually high number of open statewide elective offices, including governor, secretary of state, attorney general and auditor,” he said. “Washington voters also will be electing three brand new members of Congress, following our redistricting and retirements of incumbents. A U.S. Senate seat is on the ballot and people are already buzzing about our ballot measures that are on tap for November. Our Legislature, the courts and other important state and local offices also offer lots of excitement. Some judges, including the Supreme Court, essentially can be elected in the primary by taking more than 50 percent of the vote.”

Ballots recently were mailed to military and overseas voters. Ballots will be sent to other Washington voters starting July 20.

To read more, visit www.sos.wa.gov.