This mini-series is a collection of stories “pre-bunking” misinformation and disinformation ahead of the 2024 election. The series will continue to explore the democratic process in Whatcom County.
Written by Isaac Stone Simonelli
Did you vote by mail? Experts say it’s safe and secure
Confidence in Washington vote-by-mail system remains high, according to new poll
Part one: Washington voters have been dropping their ballots in mailboxes for nearly two decades and the process has proven to be accurate and secure, experts say.
Meet Washington’s robust voter registration system
In the case of name changes, moves, deaths, felonies — the auditor makes the necessary updates
Part two: The Washington State Voter Registration Database was launched in 2006, creating a more efficient system for identifying duplicate registrations, deceased voters and incarcerated voters convicted of a felony. Because of this constant flux in registration records, it’s necessary for the state to have a robust verification system in place.
Secure election system in Whatcom County open to voters
Auditor focused on ensuring confidence in valid results
Part three: In an election entangled by polarizing rhetoric and concerns about the future of democracy, Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn said she wants to focus on the positives: a secure local election process that will produce valid results.
Whatcom County Auditor’s office conducts hand count to ensure election integrity
Employees check to see if paper ballots match electronic tabulation system
Part four: 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.
When it comes to voting, your signature matters
Election staff look for at least three similarities to confirm match
Part five: A voter’s signature is the key that unlocks their ability to participate in the democratic process in Washington state. The signature is designed to do two things: to affirm the ballot is coming from the voter and assert that the voter meets the qualifications to vote.
Law enforcement support of Auditor’s Office vital to secure elections
Reference guide cites criminal codes deputies should keep top of mind this election
Part six: Law enforcement plays a critical role in supporting election officials and ensuring eligible voters are able to access their constitutional right to vote. However, it is ultimately the county auditor who has the authority and responsibility to ensure elections run smoothly within their jurisdiction.
In Washington, you can vote from jail — or upon release from prison
Some Whatcom County residents vote from jail, while felons must wait until they're released
Part seven: Voting laws for felons vary dramatically across the United States. In Washington, this November marks the first presidential election since the passing of House Bill 1078, which automatically restores the right to vote for residents convicted of felonies once they are released from prison.
What counts as a vote in elections?
Voter Intent manual guides election worker decisions in Whatcom County
Part eight: What counts as a vote on a ballot in Washington? Is a dark coffee stain going to cause your vote to be counted incorrectly? What about if you check a box or put a cross in it or don’t fill it in all the way? What if a stray mark enters a bubble of a candidate you don’t want to vote for, or you use an odd-colored pen? Election officials have answers to each of these questions and a myriad of similar concerns. They rely on the “Voter Intent: Statewide Standards on What is a Vote” manual, put out by the Washington Secretary of State.
Dropping off multiple ballots is ‘OK’
Safeguards protect election from fraudulent votes
Part nine: Dropping off a ballot is not the same as casting a vote — though the two actions are intertwined. (A ballot must be dropped off or mailed in to be cast.) Dropping off multiple ballots does not create an opportunity for someone to cast more than one vote, Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn confirmed.
Washington law protects voters in Whatcom County
A wide variety of activities are illegal near ballot drop boxes, voting center
Part ten: In Washington, people are restricted from engaging with voters within 100 feet of a voting center or within 25 feet from a ballot drop box to ensure that voters are unimpeded when casting their vote. Ahead of the general election, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office said that deputies on patrol have an increased awareness of ballot box locations in the county and will be available to respond to any suspicious activity.