SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash — It's a busy week for Spokane County. The elections office is getting ready to send out ballots to voters.
Spokane County ballots are being mailed out starting tomorrow, October 9th through October 11th. Expect those in your mailboxes soon.
It is also National Voter Education Week. Here are all the details you need to know before November 5th.
The Spokane County Elections Office is ready to send out 360,000 ballots. The office does not want voters to wait around if ballots do not arrive in their mailbox.
“That’s one of the biggest things is people call after the election and say ‘I never got my ballot,’ Well there is nothing we can do about that,” Mike McLaughlin, Spokane County Elections Manager, said.
If you are still missing your ballot by October 18, the elections office says to call or visit in person before it's too late.
“So, don’t take a chance on getting it lost," McLaughlin said. "Or if there is a problem with your signature, let's get it done, the earlier the better.”
McLaughlin said another thing to keep in mind is the office gets a lot of ballots back that do not have signatures, so be sure to sign your ballot.
Ballot drop boxes can be found at all City Halls and libraries starting on October 11 and will close sharply at 8 p.m. on Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 5.
Mailed boxes need to be postmarked on November 5.
When it comes to safety and security, the elections office assures that between their 200 observers and strict proposals, they have the system down.
“Everything is reconciled, there [are] always two people with the ballots," McLaughlin said. "There’s a lot of steps to go through to make sure your ballot is counted the way you want it to be counted."
And for those who still need to register or do registration updates, that deadline is October 28th. It must be received by the 28th by mail or online. And for November 5th, make sure your ballots are postmarked by November 5th.