Election Security: National Guard Watches Ballot Boxes in 7 Counties

The Washington National Guard is watching ballot drop boxes in Snohomish County and six other counties, Gov. Bob Ferguson's office confirmed Friday. The deployment covers Island, King, Pierce, Thurston, Clark and Lewis counties alongside Snohomish.

Ferguson sent a letter earlier this month to every county auditor in the state offering Guard support to serve as an "Election Neighborhood Watch." He wrote that in recent days several officials, including the secretary of state, have received letters containing white powder. "Amid these recent developments and the highly charged atmosphere of this election, my administration is taking every precaution to ensure that every vote counts and that counties have the resources they need to monitor and respond to potential threats," the letter said.

Ferguson also cited a 2024 incident in Clark County, where hundreds of ballots were burned by an incidenary device at a ballot box. Then Gov. Jay Inslee activated the National Guard after that event.

Snohomish County accepted the offer this month "out of an abundance of caution," auditor's office spokesperson Sierra Cornelius said in an email Friday. Guard soldiers will report to the Snohomish County auditor, she said. They will be unarmed and in plainclothes and will assist in a limited capacity by watching ballot boxes during evening and overnight hours. Soldiers will not empty boxes, handle ballots, interact with voters or act in an enforcement capacity. "If they see anything concerning, they will follow county-established procedures and call 911 so local law enforcement can respond," Cornelius said.

The county and governor's office declined to say how many soldiers will be stationed in Snohomish County, citing operational security for Guard personnel. Brionna Aho, spokesperson for the governor's office, said the National Guard has been activated to provide cybersecurity support for every election since 2016.

The added monitoring arrives as election officials push voters to use drop boxes ahead of Tuesday's election. On Friday the secretary of state's office said using a ballot box is the best way to ensure a ballot arrives on time, noting ballots mailed less than a week before Election Day may not receive a timely postmark. A map of drop boxes in Snohomish County is posted at snohomishcountywa.gov/5726/Find-a-Ballot-Drop-Box.

Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.