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King County Elections
9010 East Marginal Way S
Tukwila, WA 98108

206-296-VOTE (8683)
TTY: 206-296-0109
FAX: 206-296-0108

Hours:
Weekdays 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Observer Opportunities and Guidelines

November 4, 2008 General Election

Opportunities

Observer Orientation and Training
(public is invited to attend)
Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
KC Elections facility

Election Activity Location Begin dates

Canvass board meetings

KCE

October 17

Military and oversea ballots mailed

KCE

October 3

Absentee insertion

KCE/vendor

September 26 and daily through November 1

Early voting available on accessible voting units

KCE

October 15 – November 3  

Incoming ballot sort

KCE

October 20 – November 25*

Signature verification

KCE

October 20 – November 25* 

Ballot opening

KCE

October 22 – November 25*

Ballot duplication

KCE

October 24 – November 25*

Phone bank

KCE

Beginning September 15  

Ballot on request

KCE

October 15 – November 3

Poll worker training

KCE

October 6 – November 3
 

Petition checking

KCE

No current petition

Voter registration & absentee request data entry

KCE

Ongoing

Canvass Process (includes the 4% accessible voting unit audit)

KCE

Begins November 5 until completion*

Provisional ballot processing

KCE

November 6 until completion*

Poll supply assembly

EDC

Currently until October 31

Absentee ballot tabulation

KCE

November 4 – November 25*

Depot supply pick up

Seattle and county Depot locations

November 1 and 2

Depot activities

Depot locations

November 4 after 8 p.m.*

Memory card uploading/precinct reporting

KCE

November 4 from 8 p.m. until complete*

Logic & accuracy test of accessible voting units

EDC

October 14 – October 24*  or until completed*

Logic & accuracy test of mail ballot tabulation equipment

KCE

October 31 at 10:30 a.m.*  

Trouble shooter activities

Various poll sites

October 30- November 8

Minority language compliance

Various poll sites and all election activities

Ongoing

* Paid political party observers scheduled

Guidelines

Observers play a unique role in the elections process and provide an objective review of the vote counting process.

Your election officials work hand in hand with the King County Republican and Democratic parties to place official party observers at key locations from the time absentee ballots are received to the time the election is certified. The public is encouraged to observe this process at our election headquarters in Renton.

King County Elections (KCE)
919 SW Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
map and directions

Learn more about observing elections in King County:

Read the Secretary of State's Guidelines for Observing Elections, in PDF format, in English (308K) or Chinese (3.6 MB). Both are external links.