Kent primary ballot return rate of 11.17% trails countywide turnout ahead of Aug. 4 primary election; remember to VOTE

Kent voters had returned 11.17% of ballots for the Aug. 4 2026 primary election, trailing King County’s overall turnout rate as the voting deadline approaches, according to King County Elections.

Countywide, voters had returned 204,184 ballots out of 1,452,151 active registered voters as of 8 a.m. Aug. 3, for an overall turnout rate of 14.06%.

Kent’s return rate was below several other cities shown in the county data, including Normandy Park at 18.43%, Des Moines at 14.81% and Auburn at 11.68%. SeaTac was at 10.41%.

Most ballots returned countywide had come in by mail. King County Elections reported 107,902 mail ballots, or 52.85% of returns. Ballot drop boxes accounted for 94,692 returns, or 46.38%, while email and fax returns totaled 1,590, or 0.78%.

Other Return Stats:

As of Aug. 3, 2026:

• Normandy Park had one of the higher South King County return rates, with 18.43% of ballots returned.
• Unincorporated King County had returned 16.26% of ballots.
• Des Moines voters had returned 14.81% of ballots.
• Burien voters had returned 12.58% of ballots.
• Auburn voters had returned 11.68% of ballots.
• Tukwila voters had returned 11.26% of ballots.
• SeaTac voters had returned just 10.41% of ballots.

Mercer Island had the highest ballot return rate so far, at 20.38%.

Among the South King County cities, Normandy Park was highest at 18.43%.

Ballot Boxes Open Until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4

Be sure to VOTE if you haven’t – local ballot boxes are open until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4:

• Regional Justice Center Ballot Drop Box, 401 4th Ave N., Kent, 98032. NOTE: Not a drive-up ballot drop box.
• Kent YMCA Ballot Drop Box, 10828 SE 248TH Street, Kent, 98030. NOTE: Not a drive-up ballot drop box.
• Kent Panther Lake Library Ballot Drop Box, 20500 108th Ave SE, Kent, 98031. NOTE: Not a drive-up ballot drop box.
• Safeway Kent Kangley Ballot Drop Box, 13101 SE Kent-Kangley Road, Kent, 98030. NOTE: Not a drive-up ballot drop box.
• Highline College Ballot Drop Box, 2400 S 240th Street, Des Moines, 98198. NOTE: This is a drive-up ballot drop box.
• Covington Library Ballot Drop Box, 27100 164th Ave SE, Covington, 98042. NOTE: Not a drive-up ballot drop box.