Presidential primary ballots due Tuesday

OLYMPIA — Voting in the state’s presidential primary concludes Tuesday and the results could push Donald Trump closer to becoming the Republican Party presidential nominee.

But it won’t put him over the top.

There are 44 Republican delegates up for grabs in the election and Trump needs 76 to reach the 1,237 required to sew up the nomination before the GOP national convention this summer. That means California’s primary in June could provide Trump enough to breach the threshold.

The state Democratic Party relies on caucuses to apportion its delegates and will ignore the primary results. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the party’s March 26 caucuses.

That’s not deterring Democrats from casting ballots in this primary.

As of Monday morning in Snohomish County, 106,336 ballots had been returned representing a 24 percent turnout of registered voters. Of those, 59,377 were cast for Democratic candidates and 40,978 for Republicans. Another 5,981 ballots either had no party or both party oaths chosen.

Statewide, nearly 1.1 million voters had taken part in the primary as of Friday. A breakdown by political party was not available.

By comparison, 1.2 million people voted in the 2008 presidential primary.

There was no primary in 2012.

Ballots for this year’s election must be turned in or postmarked by Tuesday. Also, to be valid and counted, voters must check one of the boxes on the outside envelope indicating their allegiance to the Democratic or Republican parties.

Voted ballots can be put in one of the 12 drop boxes scattered around Snohomish County until 8 p.m. Election Day. These do not require postage.

Voters also can drop completed ballots off at the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office until 8 p.m. It is located, on the first floor of the Snohomish County Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.

Like other elections, it will take a few days before all the votes are counted. For Republicans, the final totals will determine the allocation of delegates.

The way the rules are written, Trump as well as Ted Cruz, John Kasich and Ben Carson could walk away with delegates. Although the latter three have stopped campaigning, their names are on the ballot and thus making it possible to earn delegates.

Under the GOP system, 14 delegates will be distributed based on the final statewide tally. Candidates receiving at least 20 percent will qualify for a share of those delegates.

The remaining 30 will be distributed on a basis of three delegates per each of the 10 congressional districts.

Again, candidates must get at least 20 percent of the vote in the district to qualify for a delegate. However, if one person receives more than half the vote cast in a congressional district, he will receive all three delegates.

Secretary of State Kim Wyman, a Republican, who wanted to hold the primary earlier in the year but could not persuade Democratic Party leaders to move up the date, has estimated the election will cost state taxpayers $11.5 million.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

Here are locations of boxes where ballots can be dropped off postage free:

Arlington (near library), 135 N. Washington Ave.

Bothell (QFC parking lot)

22833 Bothell Everett Hwy.

Edmonds (near library), 650 Main St.

Everett (Courthouse Campus), Rockefeller Avenue and Wall Street.

Everett (at McCollum Park), 600 128th St. SE.

Lake Stevens (near the city boat launch), 1800 Main St.

Lynnwood (in front of City Hall), 19100 44th Ave.

Marysville (behind Municipal Court), 1049 State Ave.

Monroe (near library), 1070 Village Way.