705,231 Washington ballots cast as early voting hits 13.7%

Washington state voters have returned 705,231 ballots as of Friday afternoon, representing 13.7% of the state's 5.15 million registered voters. This pace is slightly behind the same period four years ago, when 13.9% of registered voters had cast their ballots.

Drop boxes are driving this surge. A majority of 66.4% of the returned ballots arrived via these collection points. State officials have urged voters to use drop boxes rather than the U.S. Postal Service to avoid processing delays. The strategy appears effective, with Jefferson County leading the state at 32.8% of ballots returned. Five other counties, including San Juan, Asotin, Thurston, Lincoln, and Skagit, exceeded the 20% mark on Friday.

Volume remains concentrated in the most populous regions. King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties accounted for 47% of all ballots mailed or deposited in drop boxes. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs noted that while he hopes for higher turnout than the 64.6% recorded in 2022, the current cycle lacks a high-profile statewide contest to drive engagement.

Postal service issues continue to complicate the process for those mailing their ballots. Since August, election officials have warned that reduced postal service and distant processing centers have led to late postmarks. In the August primary, more than 20,000 ballots were rejected due to timing. Hobbs advised voters mailing ballots to do so at least one week before Election Day. He also suggested that voters go to local post offices next week to request a clerk postmark the envelope immediately.

Ballot challenges have emerged in the current election cycle. A total of 4,229 ballots have been challenged so far. Of these, 2,026 had signature mismatches with the voter registration form, and 1,374 lacked a signature. Voters associated with these ballots will have the opportunity to correct the errors and ensure their votes are counted.

Election officials are managing increased federal scrutiny and threats. Hobbs stated that the federal government has not shared real-time security threat information as it has in past cycles. He expects a classified briefing soon and noted that Washington is part of a multistate task force monitoring for potential bad actors.

Tensions have escalated over voter eligibility. In the summer, the U.S. Department of Justice threatened criminal prosecution of state election officials if they fail to prevent noncitizens from voting in federal elections. Recently, federal authorities issued more than 60 subpoenas for individual voter records. Hobbs said his office is reviewing these requests to ensure compliance with state and federal laws while protecting voter information.

The Trump administration has sued California to stop the counting of ballots allegedly cast by noncitizens. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown filed a legal brief opposing the federal demand. Hobbs anticipates that federal election observers will be present in specific counties, including areas in southwest Washington where the 3rd Congressional District race is contested.

King County leaders were informed this week that federal monitors will be sent to the region, though their specific role remains unclear. Critics worry about potential interference, while the Department of Justice describes the monitoring as routine. Hobbs described the current environment as more difficult than previous cycles due to the constant push and pull with the administration. He and Brown have created a guide to help local officials manage these federal interactions.