The number of ballot drop boxes in King County will increase from 10 to 40 after the County Council’s Budget Committee approved a proposal by Director of Elections Julie Wise.
The boxes will cost an estimated $350,000, according to county officials. The money would cover the costs of new boxes, installation and advertising to let people know about the boxes.
“We should make it as easy as possible to exercise the right to vote and this is a good step in that direction,” Wise said in a media release. “I want to thank both the Executive and County Council for their support in making this happen so quickly.”
King County Elections has 10 of the 24-hour, permanent ballot drop boxes, including one at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, and 12 temporary ballot-drop vans with limited hours and days of operation. The planned expansion would include 30 additional permanent drop-box locations.
“Democracy requires participation,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Director Wise and I share a commitment to increasing voter access across King County. Working with the County Council, we will help ensure that everyone’s voice is heard in our region.”
The new drop-box locations are still to be identified and King County Elections is in the process of assessing the feasibility of a variety of options, including public libraries.
A second proposal will expand the county’s program for outreach to limited English speaking communities. Beginning this year, elections materials will be translated into Spanish and Korean, in addition to Chinese and Vietnamese. The Department of Elections will also begin working with community-based organizations to increase awareness and voter registration in those communities.
The two proposals were included in the mid-biennium budget supplemental which passed out of the council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee on Wednesday. The full Council is expected to vote on a final budget sometime later this month.
A report assessing the feasibility of drop box locations is due to the County Council by the end of April. The first round of drop boxes would be placed mid-summer in time for the primary election in August with remaining boxes to be placed by the presidential election in November.
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