As numbers provided by our Elections Office demonstrate, San Juan County voters are noted for two things: high turnout and heavy support of both Democratic candidates and progressive initiatives.

Know Your County –  An Election Profile of San Juan County 2008-2015

By Diane Martindale, San Juan Island

Generally speaking, in presidential election years, San Juan County has the highest voter turnout in the state, followed closely by Jefferson County. Of course, we want to match or break our previous record turnout this coming November!

Election results in San Juan County:

November 2015

Number of registered voters – 12,177
Voter turnout​​​ – 57.56%

November 2014
County voter turnout​​​ – 71.61%
State voter turnout​​​​ – 54.16%
​County approval Larsen- 69.21%
​County approval Lytton – 70.44%

November 2013
County voter turnout – ​​​62.98 %

November 2012
County voter turnout​​​ – 89.39%
State voter turnout​​​​ – 81.25%

Same sex marriage initiative:
​​County​ – 71.16% approval
​​State – 53.7% approval

​Legalizing marijuana:
​​County – ​68.29% approval
​​State – ​​55.7% approval

County approvals:
​​Obama – 67.26%
Cantwell – 70.37%
​Larsen​​​ – 69.30%
​Inslee​​​​ – 64.82% (51.54% statewide)
​​Ranker​​​ – 70.20%
​Lytton​​​ – 74.71%
​Morris​​​ – 73.78%

November 2010

County voter turnout​​​ – 80.84%

State voter turnout​​​​ – 71.24%
​County approval Murray​​​ – 65.24%

November 2008
County voter turnout​​​ – 91.49%
State voter turnout​​​​ – 84.61%
State approval ​Obama​​​ – 70.02%
​ State approval Ranker​​​ – 66.15%
​County approval Morris​​​ – 75.29%

Obama 2008 approval breakdown by island:

Waldron​​​​ – 95%
Lopez Island​​​ – 76%
Orcas Island​​​​ – 73%
San Juan Island ​​​(including Town of Friday Harbor) – 68%

Source: San Juan County Elections Office.

Cantwell is Maria Cantwell, U.S. Senator

Murray is Patty Murray, U.S. Senator

Larsen is Rick Larsen, U.S. Congressional Representative, 2nd Congressional District

Inslee is Jay Inslee, Washington State Governor

Ranker is Kevin Ranker, State Senator, 40th Legislative District

Lytton is Kris Lytton, State Representative, 40th Legislative District

Morris is Jeff Morris, State Representative, 40th Legislative District