Jan. 5, 2005
Fact Sheet
Military and Overseas Ballots
Recent reports and messages raise concerns regarding the efforts made
by King County to ensure our military service personnel and overseas voters
were provided an opportunity to vote in the Nov. 2 General Election. The
following provides a summary of extensive efforts to assist this important
voter population.
Date of Initial Mailing of Military/Overseas Ballots:
King County Elections began mailing oversea and military ballots for the
General Election on Oct.1, 2004. These were from an absentee category
referred to as “submarine” or “special absentee ballots”
for voters who may not be able to receive a regular absentee ballot within
the timeframe necessary to participate in the election.
The bulk of the military and overseas ballots were mailed on Oct.6 with
some mailings in between these two dates and subsequent mailings as further
requests were received.
Number of military/overseas ballots issued on that date:
- On Oct.1, 246 ballots were issued
- On Oct.10, 3055 ballots were issued
For the Oct.7 mailing, King County prioritized our mail-out to ensure
military and overseas ballots were mailed as soon as they were available
and within the timeframes required by state law and guidelines from the
United State Department of Justice.
Total number of military/overseas ballots issued in the General
Election:
- 15,289 ballots that were issued were designated in voter categories
that would include military personnel and overseas voters (any RS, RM,
Subs).
Number of military/overseas ballots returned and counted :
- 12,474 counted out of 12,694 were received (from same categories
referenced above).
In addition to regular absentee ballots available to military personnel
and overseas voters, King County was responsive to constraints on the
timely receipt of ballots by these voters. Ballots were provided by facsimile
and via email to accommodate voters who contacted our office and who had
not received their regular ballot prior to the date of the election. Several
hundred of these ballots were issued.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program, a program of the United States
Department of Defense monitors services for military and overseas voters.
Under federal law, a federal write-in ballot is also available from armed
services voting assistance officers to allow service members the opportunity
to cast a ballot for federal office. These ballots are accepted and counted
even if the service member is not listed as a registered voter in the
jurisdiction where they indicate their residence.
Number of Federal Write-in ballots received and counted:
- 1,342 write-in ballots received and 1,081 validated and counted.
Some reports have indicated a significant number of military and overseas
ballots that were received too late to be counted. King County records
report a small number of such ballots that were received after the certification
of the election.
Number of military/overseas/Federal Write-in ballots received
too late:
Summary
King County went the extra mile to meet the requirements of federal and
state law in serving our military personnel and overseas voters –
and in providing access to a ballot.
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