Many Thurston County voters should anticipate receiving a regular ballot and voters pamphlet in the coming weeks as the county’s special election is scheduled for Feb. 13.
Local election measures include a Yelm Community Schools replacement educational programs and operation (EPO) levy at $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Rainier School District has two proposed levies, including an EPO levy at $2.50 per $1,000 assessed value, as well as a six-year capital levy for safety and security at a rate of $1 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Like Yelm and Rainier, Tenino School District seeks an EPO levy at the rate of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Assistance through a voting device will be available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, from Jan. 24 to Feb. 12, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m on Feb. 13 at the Thurston County Election Office voting center. Voter assistance through in-person and drive-thru service is also available at 2400 Evergreen Park Drive SW in Olympia on the same days.
Thirty ballot drop boxes are also available throughout Thurston County. A full list of ballot drop box locations, open approximately 20 days prior to election day until 8 p.m. on election night, can be found on the election office’s website, http://tinyurl.com/3kbwp3bw.
Unofficial election results will be available on the Feb. 13 election night after 8 p.m. The final count is scheduled at 5 p.m., Feb. 22, and updated results will be posted online after each count at http://thurstonwavotes.gov/.
Voters pamphlets are scheduled to arrive at the post office during the week of Jan. 15, so voters should expect to receive the pamphlet shortly after. All regular ballots are scheduled to be sent to the post office on Jan. 24.
On Jan. 30, processing of the ballots will begin and will continue through certification at the Ballot Processing Center in Tumwater. Prior to the election, logic and accuracy tests were performed at accessible voting units.
Certification of the election is scheduled to occur at the final canvassing board meeting on Feb. 23.
Thurston County encourages and invites anyone to observe all aspects of the special election’s process by calling Tillie Naputi Pullar, Thurston County elections manager, at (360) 786-5408.
Thurston County officials also remind the public that electioneering — the act of wearing or displaying campaign paraphernalia and signs for or against candidates or ballot measures — is not allowed within 100 feet of an entrance to a voting center, inside the voting center or within 25 feet of a ballot drop box.
Weapons are also prohibited in all vote centers, student engagement hubs and county elections and voter registration offices, per chapter 9.41 RCW. No weapons, concealed or openly carried, may be possessed in any ballot counting centers or areas of facilities used for ballot counting, per state law.
There will be several in-person meetings following the Feb. 13 special election, including a random audit check at 9 a.m. on Feb. 15 at the Ballot Processing Center in Tumwater. A risk-limited audit will take place at 9 a.m. on Feb. 20 at the Ballot Processing Center and is open to the public to demonstrate the accuracy of election results.
The Thurston County Canvassing board will host three board meetings at the ballot processing center at 9 a.m. on Feb. 16 and at 10 a.m. on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23. The election will be certified at the third and final meeting.
