If the state’s prediction is correct, there are a lot of voters in Skagit and Island counties still holding onto their ballots this morning.

As of Monday afternoon, Skagit County elections officials had received about 17,000 of the 63,000 ballots they mailed three weeks ago. In Island County, officials on Monday reported receiving about 14,000 ballots out of 44,500.

With ballots received Monday and today still remaining to be counted, that’s an early turnout result of 29 percent in the two counties combined — well below the 46 percent statewide predicted by Secretary of State Sam Reed.

Skagit County Elections Supervisor David Cunningham called the early numbers “surprisingly low.” He wouldn’t venture his own prediction of what Skagit County’s turnout will be.

“We thought this thing might come in at 60 percent or even higher. We’ve been way off base with our guesses so far,” Cunningham said.

On Monday, the elections office was busy processing ballots, and another busy day on Tuesday might help the county reach Reed’s prediction, Cunningham added.

In the primary, the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election regardless of party, making it possible for two candidates from the same party to face off in November.

The “top-two” primary is being challenged by party officials, who have argued that the system violates their right to select their candidates.

Ballots must be postmarked by today and have valid signatures to be counted. Voters may also deposit their ballots by 8 p.m. in drop-off boxes located throughout the county.

Election results will be available online shortly after 8 p.m. on the Island County, Skagit County and state Web sites: http://www.islandcounty.net, http://www.skagitcounty.net and http://www.vote.wa.gov.