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Editor’s Note: This story is part of Cascadia Daily News’ mini-series “pre-bunking” misinformation and disinformation ahead of the 2024 election. The series will continue to explore the democratic process in Whatcom County.
Less than 48 hours after the primary election, Whatcom County Auditor’s Office employees Kellye Conner and Laura Bauthues sat at a table in the basement of the county courthouse, gamely hand-counting six batches of ballots.
Conner and Bauthues were conducting the county’s hand count, a random check on ballot counting equipment as required by state law. Yesterday, observers from the two major political parties agreed to randomly check the votes of one of the races — District 42 House Position 1 — and then each party randomly chose three batches of ballots.
The process is simple: The two counters sort the ballots into piles based on which candidate the voter selected. On Thursday, Conner and Bauthues sorted the ballots into piles for write-in, Alicia Rule, Janet Melman, Raymond Pelletti, undervote and overvote. (Undervote meets the voter didn’t select a candidate in that race; overvote means they selected more than one candidate.)
The counters count each pile twice and each record their findings on a piece of paper. Then, staff from the auditor’s office compare the numbers of the two counters to make sure they match, and then compare those numbers to the computer’s tabulation. Thursday morning, they matched every time.
That’s normal, Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn said. There’s never been a time since she’s been in the office they haven’t matched. If by chance the counters’ numbers didn’t match the computer’s tabulation, Henthorn said they would then investigate the system.
Henthorn said the hand count contributes to the integrity of the election because it ensures what’s on the paper ballots matches the electronic tabulation system.
“[The ballots] are verifiable, they’re accurate, we’re transparent in what we’re doing here,” Henthorn said. The hand count was also livestreamed.
“I wish the whole country did what this office did,” said Laurel Cook, who was observing the hand count. She said she’s been volunteering as an observer since 2004. “Anyone who says there’s funny stuff going on down here has never been down here.”
The hand count occurs every Thursday after Election Day at 10 a.m. Next week on Wednesday morning, the auditor’s office will conduct a Risk-Limiting Audit, where ballots are randomly selected for review and hand-tallied until enough have been checked to confirm that the correct people won each race.
Previous stories in CDN’s election mini-series
- Did you vote by mail? Experts say it’s safe and secure
- Meet Washington’s robust voter registration system
- Secure election system in Whatcom County open to voters
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
