Executive transmits report on all-mail voting- King County

Feb. 15, 2007

Executive transmits report on all-mail voting

Voters and King County Elections are closer to benefiting from the convenience and efficiency of all mail balloting with completion of a plan unveiled today. The plan is the first in a series of elections reports that will be sent to the County Council as King County gears up for a 2008 transition to an all mail voting system, joining the other 34 counties in Washington state that already vote entirely by mail.

"This plan responds to the public's desire for more secure, accountable elections and shifts our resources to the voting method the majority of voters already use," said Executive Sims. "This delivers on recommendations from all the third party reviews of our current dual system and gives us new efficiencies, less likelihood of human error and more convenience for voters.

King County staffs and operates nearly 500 polling places for all countywide elections while 70 to 80 percent of voters cast their ballots by mail in any given election. Currently, 62 percent of King County's registered voters are permanent absentee ballot voters.

"This plan is a methodical and phased-in implementation to all mail voting, said Sims. "By using smaller elections to upgrade our technology and change business practices, we will be well prepared to handle the large turnout we expect in the November 2008 presidential election."

The report contains three months worth of research from jurisdictions of similar size, including vote-by-mail counties in Washington and lessons learned from other large jurisdictions across the country. King County Elections' transition team performed extensive research and analysis of regional voting centers, ballot drop-off locations and upgraded ballot tabulation solutions.

The plan includes a detailed timeline with tasks, milestones, and dependencies of a phased-in work schedule for an anticipated transition in a small special election in the spring of 2008.

"Our approach to implementing all-mail voting in King County is to manage this change over the next 14 months as a transition," said Jim Buck, interim director of the Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division. "Changes and developments will be phased in throughout the implementation timeframe to allow for troubleshooting, evaluation and adjustment - with final implementation when we are most prepared and at the point of least risk and disruption."

Under the plan submitted to the County Council:

Voters who need an accessible way to vote will still have the ability to vote in person at a limited number of regional voting centers.
Voters will be able to verify their ballot status using the Internet.
Voters will have the option of returning their ballot by mail or at a secure ballot drop-off location.
Ballots will be counted more efficiently and quickly using updated tabulation equipment.
A more automated system will enhance the efficiency of election operations and reduce human errors by eliminating manual operations.
Security will be a high priority in evaluating and selecting systems and establishing processes

The methodical, phased-in approach is consistent with recommendations made by management audits and observation reports by third-party election experts and the Citizens' Election Oversight Committee.

The plan calls for several key legislative steps by the Council including revisions to King County code to update the number of registered voters in each precinct to the state limit; approval of criteria for regional voting centers and ballot drop-off locations; and the creation of a Regional Voting Center Consulting Group, consisting of members of the Citizen’s Election Oversight Committee, Council staff, the disability community, Section 203 minority language coalition and Elections staff, to provide location recommendations by July 27, 2007.

"Elections represent a vital voice for our public. It is imperative these enhancements and changes to our system move forward. I urge the County Council to pass the motion and ordinance in this plan so we can keep the momentum of this historic transition moving forward," said Sims.

The Metropolitan King County Council directed the Records, Elections, and Licensing Services Division to complete a comprehensive plan and timeframe for establishing an entirely vote-by-mail system by February 15, 2007. This report meets that deadline and provides the County Council information necessary to make informed decisions on changes and directions to make the transition by early next year.

Read the report (PDF, 25MB).

Related information

Vote by Mail transmittal letter (PDF, 84 K)
Read the complete report (PDF, 25 MB)
Vote by Mail Motion (PDF, 78 K)
Revised precincts transmittal letter (PDF, 40 K)
Revised precincts ordinance (PDF, 40 K)

King County Executive, Ron Sims County news Executive initiatives Excellence in Government Executive offices Biography Contact information King County Executive Office Ron Sims, King County Executive 701 Fifth Ave. Suite 3210 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-296-4040 Fax: 206-296-0194 TTY Relay: 711	KING COUNTY HOME \| NEWS \| SERVICES \| DIRECTORY \| CONTACT King County Executive, Ron Sims King County Executive You're in: King County Executive, Ron Sims print Feb. 15, 2007 Executive transmits report on all-mail voting Voters and King County Elections are closer to benefiting from the convenience and efficiency of all mail balloting with completion of a plan unveiled today. The plan is the first in a series of elections reports that will be sent to the County Council as King County gears up for a 2008 transition to an all mail voting system, joining the other 34 counties in Washington state that already vote entirely by mail. "This plan responds to the public's desire for more secure, accountable elections and shifts our resources to the voting method the majority of voters already use," said Executive Sims. "This delivers on recommendations from all the third party reviews of our current dual system and gives us new efficiencies, less likelihood of human error and more convenience for voters. King County staffs and operates nearly 500 polling places for all countywide elections while 70 to 80 percent of voters cast their ballots by mail in any given election. Currently, 62 percent of King County's registered voters are permanent absentee ballot voters. "This plan is a methodical and phased-in implementation to all mail voting, said Sims. "By using smaller elections to upgrade our technology and change business practices, we will be well prepared to handle the large turnout we expect in the November 2008 presidential election." The report contains three months worth of research from jurisdictions of similar size, including vote-by-mail counties in Washington and lessons learned from other large jurisdictions across the country. King County Elections' transition team performed extensive research and analysis of regional voting centers, ballot drop-off locations and upgraded ballot tabulation solutions. The plan includes a detailed timeline with tasks, milestones, and dependencies of a phased-in work schedule for an anticipated transition in a small special election in the spring of 2008. "Our approach to implementing all-mail voting in King County is to manage this change over the next 14 months as a transition," said Jim Buck, interim director of the Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division. "Changes and developments will be phased in throughout the implementation timeframe to allow for troubleshooting, evaluation and adjustment - with final implementation when we are most prepared and at the point of least risk and disruption." Under the plan submitted to the County Council: Voters who need an accessible way to vote will still have the ability to vote in person at a limited number of regional voting centers. Voters will be able to verify their ballot status using the Internet. Voters will have the option of returning their ballot by mail or at a secure ballot drop-off location. Ballots will be counted more efficiently and quickly using updated tabulation equipment. A more automated system will enhance the efficiency of election operations and reduce human errors by eliminating manual operations. Security will be a high priority in evaluating and selecting systems and establishing processes The methodical, phased-in approach is consistent with recommendations made by management audits and observation reports by third-party election experts and the Citizens' Election Oversight Committee. The plan calls for several key legislative steps by the Council including revisions to King County code to update the number of registered voters in each precinct to the state limit; approval of criteria for regional voting centers and ballot drop-off locations; and the creation of a Regional Voting Center Consulting Group, consisting of members of the Citizen’s Election Oversight Committee, Council staff, the disability community, Section 203 minority language coalition and Elections staff, to provide location recommendations by July 27, 2007. "Elections represent a vital voice for our public. It is imperative these enhancements and changes to our system move forward. I urge the County Council to pass the motion and ordinance in this plan so we can keep the momentum of this historic transition moving forward," said Sims. The Metropolitan King County Council directed the Records, Elections, and Licensing Services Division to complete a comprehensive plan and timeframe for establishing an entirely vote-by-mail system by February 15, 2007. This report meets that deadline and provides the County Council information necessary to make informed decisions on changes and directions to make the transition by early next year. Read the report (PDF, 25MB). Related information Vote by Mail transmittal letter (PDF, 84 K) Read the complete report (PDF, 25 MB) Vote by Mail Motion (PDF, 78 K) Revised precincts transmittal letter (PDF, 40 K) Revised precincts ordinance (PDF, 40 K)
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	Updated: Feb. 16, 2007