NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 3, 2026Miami-Dade
Washington state holds primary election amid Spokane wildfire emergency
Washington voters head to the polls Tuesday for a top-two primary election while local officials manage a state of emergency due to wildfires in Spokane. Voters in affected areas are advised to use the state website to track ballots or request replacements, with all ballots due by 8 p.m. local time.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
The primary determines which two candidates advance to the general election for U.S. House, state legislative, and state Supreme Court seats, with specific voting procedures adjusted for residents impacted by ongoing wildfire evacuations.
Key Facts
- Washington uses a top-two primary system where all candidates appear on one ballot and the top two advance to the general election.
- Polls close at 8 p.m. local time; ballots must be postmarked or dropped off by this deadline.
- One ballot drop box in the Spokane evacuation zone will be closed after remaining ballots are collected.
- Roughly 67,000 people in the Spokane area are under evacuation orders.
- Automatic machine recounts occur if the margin is less than 2,000 votes and under 0.5% of total votes cast.
- Manual recounts are required for statewide races if the margin is under 1,000 votes and less than 0.25% of total votes.
- Manual recounts are required for other races if the margin is under 150 votes and less than 0.25% of total votes.
- Washington conducts elections almost entirely by mail.
- As of July 1, there were approximately 5.1 million registered voters in the state.
- Three state Supreme Court seats are on the ballot, including the Chief Justice's seat.
Who's Mentioned
personDebra Stephens“Chief Justice of the Washington state Supreme Court.”other5.1 million“Number of registered voters in Washington as of July 1.”personJohn Braun“Republican state Senate Minority Leader and primary challenger in the 3rd Distri”personAmanda McKinney“Yakima County Commissioner and candidate for the 4th District.”other67,000“Number of people under evacuation orders in the Spokane area.”personDan Newhouse“Retiring Republican U.S. Rep. for the 4th Congressional District.”personJerrod Sessler“Entrepreneur and candidate for the 4th District.”locationSpokane“City currently affected by wildfires and evacuation orders.”personMarie Gluesenkamp Perez“Democratic U.S. Rep. running for a third term in the 3rd Congressional District.”personDonald Trump“Former President who endorsed candidates in the 3rd and 4th Districts.”