Podlodowski believes Pierce County deadline may discourage voters

The Pierce County auditor is standing by her advice to voters, even in the face of criticism by the Democratic candidate for secretary of state.

Tina Podlodowski says the advice to mail ballots by Nov. 4 may mean some voters won't participate in the election. When we got to the Pierce County elections office we found people already driving by to drop off their ballots.

“I want to make sure my vote counts, so move it along,” Pierce County voter Laurie Lasky said.

But Democratic candidate for secretary of state Tina Podlodowski is worried about the voters who will put their ballots in the mail.

She says a flier included with Pierce County ballots says the deadline is Nov. 4, four days before the election, even though ballots don't have to be postmarked until Nov. 8.

So we went to Pierce County Assessor Julie Anderson and she is not backing down.

“There is nothing more heartbreaking for us than to have to mail a voter after election and say we received your ballot and we couldn't count it,” she said.

Anderson says the flier is based on the advice of the U.S. Postal Service

Anderson doubted there would be much confusion, “Pierce County voters, they are pretty darn smart.”

And voters we met doubted there would be much confusion.

“I don't know, I don't think it would,” said Pierce County voter Leigh Dunlap.

Cox Media Group