Nov. 8, 2004 at 4:00 p.m.

Nov. 8 absentee ballot update

King County Elections today counted 63,439 absentee ballots, bringing the total number of absentee ballots counted to 535,399. Election officials project an estimated 46,000 ballots remain to be counted. This includes valid absentee and provisional ballots.

Of the 646,537 absentee ballots issued, 553,948, or 85.6 percent, have been returned. Elections officials estimate approximately 5,000 arrived through the mail today.

"The canvassing process, in my mind, is one of the most critical periods of any election," said Dean Logan, director of King County Records, Elections and Licensing Services. "The audit process that takes place during the 15-day canvassing period helps ensure the validity of each vote, which is essential to maintaining the integrity of our elections process."

As ballots continue to trickle in through the mail, election staff work to check for valid postmarks, verify signatures, separate ballots from return and security envelopes, and prepare ballots for tabulation. Ballots counted through today include those received through November 6. The number of ballots received each day is available online at 10 a.m. the day following receipt at your.kingcounty.gov/elections/2004nov/ballotsreceived.htm.

Election results will be updated again on Wednesday, Nov. 10 and Friday, Nov.12 at 4 p.m.

Election officials caution the public from calling close races until all provisional ballots are counted. Election staff worked over the weekend to process provisional ballots and canvass Tuesday's election. Voters who cast a provisional ballot may begin checking the status of their ballot online starting today. Provisional ballots are processed throughout the 15-day canvass of the Election.

The next ballot count will be issued Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. Visit your.kingcounty.gov/elections/2004nov/schedule.htm for King County Elections' report schedule.

Updated: Nov. 8, 2004

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