County election officials received more than 140 unmailed ballots found in mailboxes
OLYMPIA, Wash. — After more than 100 ballots were found after election day in mailboxes considered out of service, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) said it is taking steps to prevent a repeat during the 2024 elections.
In a letter to the USPS, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs called the discovery of 141 ballots “unsettling” and potentially disenfranchising for voters.
The Secretary of State’s Office said four counties received ballots not collected in mailboxes.
Elections officials identified 87 ballots from out-of-service mailboxes in King County, and 37 were found in Pierce County. Clark County’s auditor said their office received 13 last week and two were identified in Thurston County.
All but one of those ballots were added to the Nov. 7 election results because they had signatures and were dated prior to the election.
Election officials said none of the votes were enough to change any race outcomes.