OLYMPIA -- Turnout for the 2010 mid-term election will be about 71.18 percent of the state's registered voters, the Secretary of State's office said today.

That's shy of the record in 1970, which was 71.8 percent, but higher than anything since, and better than the second best modern mid-term turnout of 1958, which was 71.15 percent.

It's also better than 2006, which was 64.55 percent, and 2002, a measly 56.35 percent, and better than Secretary of State Sam Reed's prediction of 66 percent. Elections officials, however, are never unhappy when their turnout predictions turn out to be low.

In all, about 2.6 million ballots were cast.

There will be mandatory recounts in three close legislative races, but not in the state Supreme Court race in which challenger Charlie Wiggins topped incumbent Richard Sanders.

Spokane County turnout is at 71.29 percent right now, but could go up a one-hundedth of a percent or two after the canvassing board meets at 12:30 this afternoon. No recounts in Spokane County -- and essentially no changes from election night.

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