2024 general election shows a drop in voter engagement despite some improvements
Yakima County has officially certified its results from the November 5, 2024 general election, revealing a concerning trend of low voter turnout. The county saw just 67.3% of registered voters participate, making it the second-lowest turnout across Washington state, only behind Adams County. Despite a slight increase from the 2016 election, the voter turnout was down by more than 7,000 voters compared to the 2020 election.
These results highlight a growing concern for election officials, as they look for ways to improve voter engagement moving forward. While the number of ballots counted in Yakima County did increase by 8,000 votes from the 2016 election, the turnout still remains far from ideal.
Changes in Voting Methods: Drop Boxes Gain Popularity
One bright spot in this year’s election was the increase in drop box usage. For the first time, Yakima County voters used drop boxes more than the traditional mail-in ballots. In total, around 4,000 more ballots were cast through drop boxes than through mail-in submissions. This change marks a shift in how voters prefer to cast their ballots, and Yakima County Elections Manager Kathy Fisher notes that the county is already planning to expand and improve the drop box system.
Plans are in place to install a new drop box in West Valley, upgrade the one on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and replace the smaller drop box in Union Gap with a larger model. These improvements are aimed at making it easier for voters to submit their ballots and hopefully increase turnout in future elections.
Certification Process and Election Results
On Tuesday, the Yakima County Canvassing Board, which includes Yakima County Commissioners Chair Amanda McKinney, County Auditor Charles Ross, and County Prosecutor Joe Brusic, officially certified the results of the election. The certification process involved reviewing ballots to ensure that the results were accurate and legitimate.
Part of this process included the examination of challenged ballots, which can occur for a variety of reasons, such as mismatched signatures or late postmarks. Elections officials are trained to verify signatures and make sure ballots meet all necessary criteria. In cases where issues are found, voters are contacted to correct mistakes, a process known as “ballot curing.”
This year, Yakima County had 627 challenged ballots, with 546 ultimately rejected. However, the county’s ballot rejection rate was the third lowest in the state, which reflects the diligence of local elections officials in ensuring valid votes are counted.
Local Election Results: Key Races and Re-elections
Despite the low voter turnout, the results of the 2024 election were significant for local and state politics. In the 4th Congressional District, U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse, a Republican from Sunnyside, won re-election to his sixth term in Congress. His challenger, Jerrod Sessler, a fellow Republican from Prosser, has already indicated plans to run again in future elections.
At the local level, Republicans LaDon Linde and Kyle Curtis were both re-elected to the Yakima County Commission. State legislative races were also closely watched, with several contested seats in the Yakima Valley. In the 14th Legislative District, State Senator Curtis King was re-elected for a fifth term, and in the same district, former Grandview Mayor Gloria Mendoza and Wapato accountant Deb Manjarrez were elected to the state House. The 15th Legislative District also saw Republican incumbents Chris Corry and Jeremie Dufault retain their seats.
A Look Ahead: February 2025 Election
As Yakima County prepares to move on from the 2024 general election, officials are already focusing on the next round of voting, which will take place in February 2025. Among the items on the ballot will be school levies and a sales and use tax for emergency communications systems. Additionally, a recall effort for Mabton Mayor Rachel Ruelas could be on the ballot, depending on the Washington State Supreme Court’s ruling in December and the collection of enough signatures.
With several important local issues on the horizon, it will be interesting to see if voter engagement improves in the coming months, or if Yakima County will continue to see lower participation in elections.
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