In-person voting still alive in King County
Nov 6, 2018, 3:32 PM | Updated: 6:53 pm
Voters line up at the Downtown Bellevue Library (KIRO Radio, Matt Pitman)
(KIRO Radio, Matt Pitman)
Washington may be a mail-in ballot state, but there are still a handful of people who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way.
RELATED: Tuesday’s election in Washington could mirror 2016 turnout
Reporting from the Downtown Bellevue Library, KIRO Radio’s Matt Pitman has observed lines out the door since the in-person voting center opened at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Despite Washington’s status as a mail-in state for ballots, King County boasts five separate “accessible voting centers” for anyone who may have lost their mail-in ballot, who requires extra assistance due to a disability, or who simply wants to physically cast their vote.
“I’m so excited I got in and saw the huge line of people,” Sammamish voter Heather Gardner told Pitman at the Bellevue Library voting center. “I just thought it’s better to come in person and not mail it in — I wanted to be with more people today.”
For those using the voting centers for disability reasons, there are trained staff and specialized equipment on-site to assist voters in casting a “private, independent ballot.”
Overall turnout for the 2018 midterm in Washington could end up rivaling the 2016 presidential election. Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman estimates a turnout somewhere between 70 and 80 percent, noting the enthusiasm of voters statewide.
“We’re seeing really high turnout statewide,” Wyman told KIRO Radio. “It’s exciting. It’s good. This is what all that money that poured into our state is resulting in; is people being engaged.”
Voter turnout for the 2016 election was 78.76 percent across Washington state, while the last midterm in 2014 saw just a 54.16 percent state turnout.
If you want to vote in person in King County, you can find a list of locations near you by logging into the state’s voter portal using your name and birth date. For those going the more standard route, you have until 8 p.m. until ballot drop boxes close.
Head over here for full election coverage and results from KIRO Radio and KTTH.
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