Sept. 20, 2005
As Election Day progresses, new elections systems, better-trained workers and well-informed voters producing a smooth primary
Voters are reporting to polling locations across King County to cast their ballots, as elections workers at the Mail Ballot Operating Satellite (MBOS) tabulate thousands of absentee ballots returned by citizens voting by mail. The first count of absentee ballots will be announced at approximately 8:15 p.m. after polling places have closed. Poll results will begin to be reported starting about 9 p.m.
"We have worked very hard to prepare for this day, and those preparations are paying off," said King County Elections Director Dean Logan. "Our poll workers and staff reported for duty this morning dedicated and committed to ensuring that every King County vote is correctly received and accurately counted. I'm very pleased with how things are going."
King County has more than 1 million active registered voters and approximately 65 percent choose to vote by mail. A total of 527 polling locations opened at 7 a.m. this morning and will remain open until 8 p.m. Polling places are being staffed by a record 3,700 poll workers, all of whom completed a mandatory three-hour training to prepare for Election Day.
"We invested considerable time and effort in designing and conducting our poll worker training program, and the feedback we are receiving from poll workers and voters alike is that the improvements at the polls are noticeable and help citizens accurately cast their votes," said Logan.
Minor glitches, such as a key that broke off in a polling place door and issues relating to proper identification, have been quickly resolved with minimal delays. A beefed-up, specially trained team of elections troubleshooters is strategically placed in more than 37 zones throughout the county. Some were sent out to few locations early this morning to help set up Accu-vote tabulation machines.
According to poll workers, voters are doing their part. Voters are arriving at their polling sites with their identification in hand, as required by new state law, and are following instructions to "pick a party" to allow their votes to count in partisan races. Vote counting machines are programmed to remind voters to choose a party preference. Voters who intentionally skip partisan races will be asked by poll workers if they intentionally skipped the partisan races.
Poll workers trained in new state laws and elections procedures are helping voters at poll sites and on the Voter Hotline.
Elections Director Logan will hold a media briefing at 9 p.m. at the Media Briefing Room located on the 2nd floor of the King County Administration Building. Logan will provide a report on early election returns and respond to questions.
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