Results to be posted twice today

Because new results aren't posted over the weekend, elections is releasing two sets of results tonight.

The first will be at 4:30 p.m., as usual. The second set of results will come out between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. and we'll tweet about it when it happens.

Ballot processing activities will not occur over the weekend and will resume on Monday.

Between the two postings, Elections anticipates adding approximately 100,000 results to the vote totals. The remaining estimated 50,000 ballots on hand will be processed early next week.

Additional information:

• Results (updated at 4:30 p.m. today)
  
• Mail ballot return statistics (updated at 8 p.m.)
  

Questions about recounts?

The Mayoral race in Seattle is currently looking close and as a result, we have been getting a number of questions about recounts. There are still many days left of ballot counting and it is too early to know if any of these laws will apply to the Seattle Mayoral race, but details are below for the curious.

When is a recount required by state law? A recount is required by state law if the following conditions are met:

• Machine recounts: required for an office or state measure if the difference between the top two candidates or between approval and rejection of a measure is less than 2,000 and also less than 1/2 of 1 percent of the total votes cast for the candidates or the measure.
• Manual recounts: A manual recount is required for a race if the difference is less than 150 votes and also less than 1/4 of one percent.

There is no provision in state law for a mandatory manual recount for state measures, only for a machine recount as stated above.

Results

Initial election results are posted and will be updated daily at 4:30 pm M-F until the election is certified. 

Ballot pre-processing

The 8:15 p.m. results will represent a record number of ballots tabulated for Election Day reporting in King County. This reflects the increased efficiencies of Vote by Mail and King County Elections new technology. 

Voters still have 1.5 hours to drop off ballots or vote at accessible voting locations. 

King County Elections has been processing ballots for several weeks. This includes deflapping, signature verification,  opening, adjudication and scanning. 

By state law, we can't begin counting ballots until 8 p.m., however, efficient ballot pre-processing means results from about 250,000 voters will be counted at 8 p.m. tonight. 

Frequently asked questions

It's been a busy news day for King County Elections in Tukwila with staff giving interviews to most of the local media. Elections Director, Sherril Huff is pictured giving an interview to Bryan Johnson of KOMO News. 

Voters have been calling the Elections hotline at 206-296-VOTE (8683) asking the following questions:

When will results be posted?

Online tonight at 8:15 p.m. The initial results will reflect approximately 250,000 ballots counted. Results will continue to be posted as ballots are counted on business days at 4:30 p.m. 

Can I still drop off my ballot?

Yes. Ballots need to be postmarked today or dropped at a King County Elections drop box before 8 p.m. tonight. Accessible voting is available in three places until 8 p.m.

Is all of Washington state voting by mail now?

Pierce County is the only county in the state conducting poll elections. The rest of Washington is voting by mail.

If King County Elections calls...

One of the steps in pre-processing ballots is signature verification.

The signature on every ballot returned is visually compared with the voter’s signature on file. Trained specialists look for groupings and clusters of similarities, like letter and character height and spacing. If the signatures match, the returned ballot packet is approved to move forward to opening.

Mismatching signatures are not usual and there are many reasons a miscomparison could occur. Approximately 3% of ballots returned in each election have a signature comparison issue. Common reasons include natural changes in a person’s signature over time, or a voter initialing instead of signing or simply forgetting to sign the oath on the signature envelope. Voters have until the evening before the election is certified to resolve their signature issue and have their ballot be counted.

If Elections calls, please return the call promptly so we can resolve any problems. Make your vote count and call back before 4:30 p.m. on November 23.

Pictures from mid-day at Elections

It's a beautiful day to vote. Ballot drop boxes are located throughout King County. Pictured here is the one at King County Elections in Tukwila, and a lovely Fall tree.

People waiting to vote outside the accessible voting location in Tukwila.

Ballots at King County Elections.

Elections workers verify voter signatures.

Where's your ballot? Track it online

Ballots can be tracked at three stages in the eight stage process. Check to see if your ballot has been delivered to the post office, if it's been received and if your signature has been verified. 

Eight Ballot Steps

Step one: Ballot assembly
Ballot packets are assembled by King County Elections staff about four weeks prior to Election Day at the printing vendor’s location in Everett. Ballot packets sent to military, overseas or out-of-state voters may also include a voters’ pamphlet.

Step two: Ballots are mailed
Ballots are mailed to voters about three weeks prior to Election Day.

Ballot packets sent to military, overseas or out-of-state voters are sent about four weeks prior to Election Day to allow a longer transit time for the ballot to reach the voter. (RCW 29A.40.070)

Step three: It’s up to the voter
Once the ballot packet is in the voter’s hands, they have until Election Day to vote their ballot, seal it in the security and signature envelopes, read and sign the oath on the signature envelope and return it to King County Elections. 

Step four: Sorting
Returned ballot packets are delivered to King County Elections where they are sorted and batched by legislative district into groups of 200 to 400. A digital image of the voter’s signature is recorded and used for signature verification.

Step five: Signature verification
Before it can be counted, the signature on every returned ballot packet is visually compared with the voter’s signature on file, typically taken from their registration form. 

Step six: Opening
Once the identity of the registered voter is confirmed, the returned ballot packet is sent to opening where the packet is opened and the contents inspected.

Step seven: Duplication
Ballots sent to duplication typically contain physical damage that would prevent them from being run through the tabulation equipment.

Step eight: Scanning and tabulation
Ballots are scanned as they become available, the final step in the process. Scanned ballot images are tabulated and released at 8 p.m. on election night.

Learn more about all steps in the ballot process.

Results and returns: The numbers

Initial results will be posted tonight at 8:15 p.m. and will reflect the votes of just under 25% of registered voters. If we reach the expected turnout of approximately 56%, the results tonight will reflect 1/3 of expected returned ballots.

We currently have 350,000 ballots on hand and approximately 250,000 of those will be counted and posted tonight at 8:15 p.m.

Ballots take about two days to process from the time they arrive at elections. Staff are opening envelopes, verifying signatures, separating identity from ballots, sorting, scanning and starting tonight, tabulating.

King County Elections will continue to process ballots until the election is certified on Nov. 24. Results will be posted M-F at 4:30 p.m online.

It's not too late to vote

It's election day it's not too late to vote!

King County votes by mail. Ballots need to be postmarked today or dropped off before 8 p.m. at a King County Elections drop box.

If you're a registered voter in King County and lost your ballot, never received one or require accessible voting, in-person voting is available before 8 p.m. tonight. There are three accessible voting locations in Tukwila, Bellevue and Seattle. 

All drop boxes and in-person voting locations will close and will not accept ballots after 8 p.m. 

Make your vote count and get your ballot in on time!