Yakima County Ballot Return Rate Remains Low Ahead August Primary

Voter engagement appears mixed across different regions and elections in 2025. In Yakima County, Washington, ballots for the August 5 primary have been returned at a slow rate, with only around 3,324 of over 133,000 ballots returned, and officials expect turnout between 25% and 35%. Meanwhile, nationally, the Democratic Party has widened its lead over Republicans in the race for control of the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections, with a recent Rasmussen Reports survey showing 46% support for Democrats versus 42% for Republicans, driven largely by independents and women voters. Historian Julian Zelizer notes that voter unrest, as seen in past legislative pushbacks like the repeal of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act, might challenge Republicans in the upcoming 2026 elections due to recent tax and spending laws. In Miami, a court ruled that the city cannot postpone its November 2025 elections to 2026 without voter approval, rejecting the city commission's attempt to extend terms to save money and increase turnout, a decision supported by both Republican and Democratic candidates and praised by Governor Ron DeSantis. This legal battle emphasizes the ongoing debates over election timing, voter rights, and political strategy in local and national contexts.