SEATTLE, Wash. — How secure is your ballot, and what’s being done to make sure no one tampers with it?
Those are serious questions with statewide measures, state supreme court positions, and races -- that could change the balance of power in Congress –- up for a vote.
“I want voters to rest assured that, in this state, your vote, your election system is secure and transparent,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said at a news conference about the Nov. 3 General Election.
Hobbs is encouraging voters to put their ballots in ballot drop boxes to make sure they’re counted. Ballots mailed this close to Election Day risk not being postmarked in time.
Election officials say ballot boxes are secure. Each ballot box is made of 1,000 pounds of steel, bolted into cement, and cannot be pried open.
In 2024, someone did manage to set fire to two ballot boxes in Vancouver and one in Portland. King County Elections Director Julie Wise says boxes are now equipped with advanced fire suppressant systems.
“And, this year, are newly equipped with censors that alert our team in real time, if there’s heat, impact, or any other issues,” Wise said.
King County Elections spokesperson Halei Watkins says ballot boxes are unlocked and ballots removed by two-person teams. They’re tracked by GPS as they travel to election headquarters.
“[The ballots] are then processed all the way through certification under the watchful eye of observers, 80 security cameras, 14 live stream cameras that folks can watch us from home,” Watkins said.
Watkins stressed that no one could hack Washington State’s elections. Ballot counting machines are not connected to the internet.
All the precautions impressed voters KIRO 7 spoke to like Max Moreno.
“That’s pretty cool. I’m glad they thought about it,” Moreno said.
“That’s fantastic,” voter Randy Nicholson said, as he slipped his ballot into a ballot box in Ballard.
Henning, who became a U.S. citizen three years ago, said he was impressed with the security measures.
“I have great confidence in the system,” Henning said. “I don’t see any reason why there would be a way to mess with it.”
As added security this year, Governor Bob Ferguson has activated the Washington National Guard to monitor ballot boxes for counties that request it. Guard members will be in plain clothes, unarmed, and won’t interact with voters. They are expected to call police if they see a threat.
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