With the Nov. 2 deadline passed, King County has received more than half of all ballots sent out for the 2010 General election.

The King County Elections website lists 543,348 ballots returned (50.5 percent) as of Nov. 2 at 8 p.m.

As of Nov. 2, both the 41st and 48th legislative districts, which encompass parts of Bellevue, have a higher percentage of ballots returned than the average of the rest of the county (for full results see below).

King County Elections Spokeswoman Gilliam said the votes are continuing to roll in at a higher rate than expected. The majority of the ballots were expected come on election day and the day after.

Gilliam said the county expects approximate turnout of 68 percent, but didn’t have a specific prediction for Bellevue. The county’s prediction is uncertain however, as this will be the first mid-term election in which the primarily vote-by-mail system is used.

This year’s projection would exceed turnout for the 2006 midterms, which topped out at 65 percent, according to election archives. Gilliam said the population’s interest in the election has a lot to do with turnout during midterms. This year’s election features important races at almost every level and several polarizing initiatives.

All ballots had to be postmarked by Nov. 2 to be counted in the voting.

Turnout as of Nov. 2

King County

Issued – 1,075,975

Returned to date – 543,348

50.5 percent

41st District

Issued – 85,853

Returned – 46,966

54.7 percent

48th District

Issued – 67,100

Returned – 35,697

53.2 percent