On Monday, September 14, King County Elections installed two new ballot drop boxes at the King County Library System’s (KCLS) Black Diamond and Carnation Libraries. These additions bring King County’s ballot drop box total to 72, serving nearly 1.4 million registered voters. The placements are intended to provide additional ballot return options to voters in both areas. Both boxes will officially open on October 15, when King County Elections opens all drop boxes throughout the county.
“Ensuring that every election is accessible to all of our voters is one of our top priorities here at King County Elections. We are thrilled to be able to install these boxes ahead of the November General to ensure that our voters in these more rural communities have a convenient and secure drop box where they can return their ballot directly to us. As Election Day approaches, my team and I are continuing to find ways to fill gaps and serve every voter in every corner of King County,” stated King County Director of Elections Julie Wise.
The ongoing and invaluable partnership with KCLS made the placement and installation of these drop boxes possible ahead of the November General election. KCLS now hosts ballot drop boxes at 21 out of 49 library locations across the county, has offered a breadth of elections programming, both in person and online, and hosts an elections-focused page on their website with non-partisan resources and information for voters.
“We are proud to be able to offer these sites for permanent ballot drop box locations. Libraries, and secure and accessible elections alike, are key cornerstones of an engaged, connected community and a strong democracy. While we continue to find even more ways to serve our communities, hosting ballot drop boxes is a natural fit for our organization and our mission,” added KCLS Executive Director Lisa Rosenblum.
Ballot drop boxes are a secure and convenient way for voters to return their ballot. Constructed of half-inch thick steel, the boxes are bolted to concrete with steel bolts, and have multiple locking mechanisms, no pry points and tamper-evident seals.
Ballot drop boxes are emptied daily by trained Elections staff in teams of two, with additional pickups in the final days leading up to Election Day. Over half of King County voters returned their ballots by drop box in this year’s August Primary, and King County Elections is expecting to receive over 700,000 ballots from drop boxes alone throughout the upcoming voting period in the General. An additional 580,000 ballots are projected to be returned by mail. King County Elections is projecting—and challenging voters to reach—90% turnout in the General election, and is encouraging voters to return their ballot as early as possible, whether that’s through the mail or at one of the 72 drop box locations throughout the county.
