Turnout for the 2019 General Election stood at a paltry 22.6 percent in Kitsap County on Election Day, according to the Kitsap County Elections Division.

Out of 174,796 registered voters, a total of 39,418 ballots were received in time to count on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Steve Gardner of the Kitsap County Auditor’s Office said turnout is expected to improve as more ballots come in Wednesday and later this week.

Turnout is still expected to move toward the 40 percent mark.

“We will have a pretty big jump today by counting yesterday’s returns and whatever comes in by mail,” Gardner said.

“Tomorrow’s won’t be as big as today’s, but it will still be significant. We’re still expecting about 40 percent.”

Only 2,625 ballots were accepted for counting on Tuesday — less than half the number that came in Monday (5,704).

The next vote count for the General Election will be posted by the Kitsap County Elections Division by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6.