Nov. 3, 2004

Absentee ballot count may tip scale on close races

After processing a record number of absentee ballots on Election Day yesterday, King County Elections today counted 99,714 additional absentee ballots, bringing the total number of absentee ballots counted to 332,968. Working longer hours to provide results more quickly, election officials estimate some 241,600 absentee ballots could still come through the mail through Friday.

Final results from the polls indicate 305,380 voters cast ballots at the polls; however, the majority of ballots cast in King County will to come by mail. Of the 646,537 absentee ballots issued, 400,507, or 62 percent, have been returned.

As ballots continue to come in from the Post Office, election staff work diligently to verify signatures, separate ballots from security envelopes, and prepare ballots for tabulation. Ballots counted through today include those received Saturday through Monday. The number of ballots received in today's mail will be available online at 10 a.m. tomorrow at http://www.metrokc.gov/elections/2004nov/ballotsreceived.htm. Those ballots will be processed and counted by Friday.

"Every aspect of this election is record-breaking for King County," said Dean Logan, director of King County Records, Elections and Licensing Services. "We've registered more new voters, provided results more quickly, and will likely see near-record turnout for this historic election."

Election officials caution the public from calling close races until all provisional ballots are counted. The number of provisional ballots cast will be announced at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 8 and is expected to surpass the 17,081 provisional ballots cast in the 2000 General Election. Voters who cast a provisional ballot may check the status of their ballot online beginning Monday, Nov. 8. Provisional ballots will be processed throughout the 15-day canvass of the Election. Visit www.metrokc.gov/elections to learn more.

Results of the election will be certified on Nov. 17 and forwarded on to the Secretary of State.

"This election is not over until every ballot is counted," said Logan.

For up-to-date results online, visit www.metrokc.gov/elections/2004nov/results.htm.

The next absentee ballot count will be issued tomorrow, Nov. 4 at 4 p.m.

Updated: Nov. 3, 2004

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