Unarmed Guardsmen to Watch Snohomish Ballot Boxes Overnight
The Washington National Guard is deploying soldiers to monitor drop boxes in Snohomish and six other counties following reports of suspicious mailings to election officials.
By Chinedu Schneider ·
Seven counties in Washington State will have National Guard soldiers monitoring their ballot drop boxes ahead of the general election. The Washington National Guard is providing this support in Snohomish, Island, King, Pierce, Thurston, Clark, and Lewis counties.
Gov. Bob Ferguson confirmed the deployment on Friday. His office stated that the Guard is acting as an Election Neighborhood Watch. Ferguson noted that several officials, including the secretary of state, received letters containing white powder in recent days. He described the current atmosphere as highly charged.
The governor’s letter to county auditors cited a 2024 incident in Clark County where an incendiary device burned hundreds of ballots. Following that event, former Gov. Jay Inslee activated the National Guard. Ferguson said the administration is taking every precaution to ensure every vote counts.
Snohomish County Auditor’s office spokesperson Sierra Cornelius said the county accepted the offer out of an abundance of caution. She stated that the state-provided resources will add an extra layer of support to existing security plans.
Soldiers assigned to Snohomish County will report to the auditor. They will serve unarmed and in plainclothes. Their role is limited to watching ballot boxes during evening and overnight hours. They will not empty boxes, handle ballots, interact with voters, or enforce the law.
If a soldier sees anything concerning, they will call 911 to allow local law enforcement to respond. The county and governor’s office did not disclose the specific number of soldiers assigned to Snohomish County, citing operational safety.
Brionna Aho, a spokesperson for the governor’s office, said the National Guard has been activated for every election since 2016 to provide cybersecurity support. Election officials are urging voters to use drop boxes to ensure their ballots are received on time. The secretary of state’s office stated that mailed ballots sent less than a week before Election Day may not be postmarked in time. A map of drop boxes is available on the Snohomish County website.
Source: Everett Herald
