Washington’s Election Day is now just a few days off, and Secretary of State Sam Reed is predicting the best midterm election turnout in four decades. Reed says voters are fired up and that counties are expecting a flood of mail-in ballots this weekend.

Reed urges voters to “avoid the rush” and return ballots promptly so that there is no doubt about making the Tuesday postmark deadline. Voters can return their ballots by mail or in person to a dropbox or the county elections office.

Reed predicts that 66 percent of the state’s 3.6 million registered voters, nearly 2.4 million, will take part in this year’s election. That would be the best participation rate since 1970.

Says Reed:

“The voters are wide awake and paying attention. This is being called a ‘wave’ or ‘change’ election across the country, and here in Washington, we have a hot Senate race that some pollsters say is too close to call and congressional seats that both parties are targeting. We also have six initiatives and record spending, which fuels a lot of attention and airtime. We have great local elections and legislative and judicial races.

“Top to bottom, it’s a very compelling election.”

Visit www.vote.wa.gov