Washington Vote: 705,000 Ballots In as Federal Friction Grows

Washington voters turned in 705,231 ballots by Friday afternoon, with the majority using physical drop boxes to avoid postal delays. This shift reflects state warnings to avoid the U.S. Postal Service due to reduced service and distant processing centers. As of Friday, 66.4% of returned ballots arrived via drop boxes.

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said he is not expecting the final turnout for the Nov. 3 election to beat the 64.6% mark set in 2022. He noted that turnout often drops when there is no competitive high-profile statewide race, such as a U.S. Senate seat. In 2022, Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray defeated Republican Tiffany Smiley, which likely boosted participation.

Jefferson County in western Washington has the highest return rate at 32.8% of ballots. San Juan, Asotin, Thurston, Lincoln, and Skagit counties have also topped 20% returns. By volume, King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties account for 47% of all mailed or drop-box returns. The state has seen 13.7% of its 5.15 million registered voters turn in ballots, slightly lower than the 13.9% recorded at this stage four years ago.

Election officials are managing a surge in federal pressure. The U.S. Department of Justice threatened criminal prosecution for officials if noncitizens vote. In recent weeks, more than 60 subpoenas for individual voter records have been received. Hobbs said his office is reviewing these requests to ensure they follow state and federal law.

The administration has also sent federal monitors to King County and expects to place observers in southwest Washington, where a contested race for the 3rd Congressional District is underway. The Department of Justice maintains these efforts are routine, though critics fear interference. Hobbs said the federal government is not sharing real-time security information as it did in past cycles.

More than 4,229 ballots have been challenged in this election. Of those, 2,026 had signature mismatches and 1,374 were unsigned. Voters with these issues will have a chance to correct the problems. In the August primary, more than 20,000 ballots were rejected due to late postmarks, a rate higher in rural areas than in 2024.

Hobbs described the current environment as a constant push and pull with the administration. He and Attorney General Nick Brown created a guide to help local election officials manage the situation. Hobbs said, “The federal government is not really there at the same time they’re throwing monkey wrenches at us.”

Voters who mail in ballots are advised to send them at least a week before Election Day. Hobbs recommended going to a local post office next week to have the clerk postmark the ballot on the spot. This step helps ensure the ballot is counted if it arrives close to the deadline.