Show All Answers

1. Who can view ballots being processed? Are there witnesses while ballots are being counted to ensure there is no bias?

• The public is welcome to view all elections work.
• The Republican and Democratic parties are requested to provide official observers for each election.
• Campaign members and candidates are welcome to observe as well.

2. How does the elections department process my ballot securely?

• Ballots entering the Counting Center are secured at all times.
• Seals and logs are used to track the security of ballots, equipment and access to areas.
• Reconciliations are completed multiple times throughout the day in order to verify that all ballots received are accounted for.
• The processing of ballots is completed in the full view of any observers present.
• Ballots are processed by teams of two workers at all times.

3. How do you know that the ballot comes from me?

• The signature on the outer return envelope of your voted ballot is verified against the signature in your voter registration record.  If you registered electronically or through the Motor Voter system, the signature is most likely the one on your WA Driver's License/ID card.
• If you forget to sign your ballot or the signature is not a match to the signature on file, we will send you a letter requesting you to correct the signature issue on your ballot allowing us to process and count your ballot. 
• If your signature can be verified, you are credited for voting.  This credit prevents any other ballot being accepted and ensures that only one ballot from each voter is counted.

4. How are my votes kept private?

• The outer return envelope, which identifies you, is separated from the inner security sleeve which contains your voted ballot. Once separated, the ballot cannot be traced back to you.
• When the team has removed the outer envelopes from all of the security sleeves in a tray of ballots, the outer envelopes are set aside and the ballots are then removed from the sleeves.
• Vote choices on your ballot are secret.  No record may be created or maintained that identifies how individual voters marked their ballot.

5. Why do vote totals change and races "flip" in the days following the election?

Washington State accepts ballots postmarked on or before Election Day, rather than the date the ballots are received.  As more ballots are received and processed, race results can change. This is normal and well within ranges of statistical probability. Additionally, under Same Day Registration, voters may continue to register and vote up until 8:00pm on Election Day.

6. How do we know that the ballot tabulation systems are secure?

Tabulation equipment is certified by the Washington Secretary of State and the Federal Election Assistance Commission.  This equipment is never connected to the internet or any network; and provides records for each election.

7. How do I know my vote choices are counted accurately?

• All ballot systems in Washington are required to go through a testing process to verify that ballots are tabulated as marked.  These tests include both pre-marked test decks as well as random batch audits.
• Ballots are processed by teams of two workers using digital scanners to accurately record ballots as marked.