Metropolitan King County Council Chair Larry Phillips said today’s briefing from the three panels investigating the operations of the King County Records, Elections and Licensing Services (REALS) Division should help assure the public that election oversight efforts are in high gear in anticipation of the 2005 elections and beyond.

“The Council today continued its oversight responsibilities for elections, hearing from both citizens and professional election auditors,” said Phillips. “Today’s briefings are a reminder that we need to provide County Elections staff with the tools they need to process and tabulate ballots swiftly and accurately.”

The Council’s Committee-of-the-Whole heard from Cheryl Scott, Chair, King County Independent Task Force on Elections, King County Auditor Cheryle Broom, who gave a status report on the County Council’s Independent Audit of the Elections Division and A.J. Culver, Chair of the County Council’s Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee.

“Each group we heard from recognized the goal is to restructure the election system for 2005 and beyond,” Phillips said. “The immediate focus should be on the September primary and November general election, but they realize the changes taking place are vital in restoring confidence in the system, for both voters and for the employees of the Elections Division. Their recommendations are a positive step, and a step away from the rhetoric that is an obstacle to reform.

“Their reports are also a reminder that reform efforts are still a work in progress. We must allow them time to complete their work and implement change.”