Mail Vote Test

Phyllis Fletcher
03/15/2007

The viaduct replacement vote this week was the first election in King County to be conducted entirely through the mail. It served as a test run for the transition to all–mail voting next year. KUOW's Phyllis Fletcher went to elections headquarters in the Industrial District and has this report.

DID YOU WRITE SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON YOUR BALLOT?

EGAN: "This is the most ridiculous ballot and ballot measure that I have ever voted on."

OR THIS?

EGAN: "This decision should be made by elected officials and based on expert opinions."

OR THIS?

EGAN: "Grow up and do your job."

IF THAT WAS YOU, I HOPE YOU FEEL HEARD. BUT YOU WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO DO THAT! BOBBIE EGAN IS A SPOKESPERSON FOR KING COUNTY ELECTIONS.

EGAN: "We urge people when they vote, resist the temptation to write on your ballot. It's not uncommon, but it does slow down the process."

AND IT'S THE KIND OF THING PEOPLE USUALLY DON'T DO AT THE POLLS. BECAUSE THE MACHINE THAT COUNTS THE BALLOT WOULD JUST SPIT IT BACK OUT.

MOST KING COUNTY RESIDENTS ALREADY VOTE BY MAIL. SO EGAN'S OFFICE IS USED TO DEALING WITH BALLOTS THAT HAVE BEEN MARKED UP OR SPILLED ON AND CAN'T GO THROUGH THE TABULATION MACHINES.

ELECTION WORKERS PAIR OFF TO WRITE A CLEAN BALLOT FOR EVERY MESSY ONE. THE MESSY ONE GOES INTO STORAGE. THE CLEAN ONE IS TABULATED BY MACHINE.

WHAT ABOUT BALLOTS THAT CAME IN BLANK? THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE RECOMMENDED VOTERS SEND BLANK BALLOTS IN PROTEST TO THE ADVISORY MEASURES.

THE ELECTIONS DIVISION HANDLES BLANKS THE SAME WAY EVERY TIME. EACH BALLOT THAT COMES IN COUNTS AS A 'BALLOT CAST.' BUT A BLANK ONE DOES NOT ADD TO THE 'YES' OR 'NO' TALLY THAT DETERMINES A WINNER.

POLL VOTING IS NOT ENTIRELY A THING OF THE PAST IN KING COUNTY. ELECTIONS IN AUGUST AND NOVEMBER WILL BE CONDUCTED AS USUAL, WITH OPTIONS FOR VOTING AT THE POLL AND BY MAIL. PHYLLIS FLETCHER, KUOW NEWS.

℗ Copyright 2007, KUOW News