Island County certified the results of the 2009 Primary Election on Wednesday, and county election officials said voter turnout was 53.9 percent.

Turnout for this year’s primary was lower than the 2008 Primary, which brought out 57.9 percent of the county’s active registered voters, but higher than the primaries in 2007 and 2006, which both saw turnout rates of 45 percent.

A total of 25,427 ballots were cast in last month’s primary.

Although ballots were mailed on July 20 for the Aug. 18 primary, a review of ballot-return records show that most voters in Island County did not vote right away.

A majority of the ballots were returned in August, and 20 percent of all ballots cast were received by the county in the last week before Election Day.

In the now-official numbers, Island Transit’s sales- tax increase passed with 55-percent “yes” votes to 44-percent “no.” The measure received 13,985 votes in favor, and 11,334 votes in opposition.

In the race for Position 3 on the board of commissioners for Fire District 3, the final vote tally was Mike Helland, 45 percent (2,450 votes); Gary Gabelein, 31 percent (1,671); Frank Mestemacher, 11.45 percent (612); and Don Carscadden, 11.43 percent (611).

In the contest for Position 2 commissioner for the Port of South Whidbey, the final vote was Dean Enell, 36 percent (601 votes); Chris Jerome, 33 percent (544); and Herb Helsel, 29 percent (484).