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Alternate Format

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Ballots returned by email or fax from service and overseas voters, as well as any ballots returned in something other than the King County Elections issued return envelope, require special handling.

These ballots are compiled and reviewed by a specially trained team to ensure voter privacy and authenticity. Processing these ballots often requires additional time as the process is more manual.

Alternate Format does not happen every day, or at all hours. If there is no live stream or no activity in the alternate format area, please check back again at another time or day.

Signature Verification 1

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Before any ballot is counted, the law requires that we visually compare the signature on every returned ballot envelope with the voter’s signature on file. Trained specialists look for general similarities such as height and spacing of letters or slants. If the signatures match, the ballot packet is approved to move forward to opening. If the signatures do not match or a signature is missing, the ballot packet is flagged and sent for further review.

Signature verification does not happen every day, or at all hours. If there is no live stream or no activity in the signature verification area, please check back again at another time or day.

Signature Verification 2

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Opening

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Opening is a three step process:

1. The security envelope, containing the voted ballot, is removed from the signature envelope and separated.
2. Once all signature envelopes have been emptied and set aside, staff open the security envelopes and remove the ballots.
3. We visually inspect the ballot to determine if the votes as marked by the voter can be properly read by our scanning equipment. Ballots that are physically ready for scanning and tabulation proceed. Ballots with physical damage or unclear voter marks are sent to Ballot Review.

Ballot opening does not happen every day, or at all hours. If there is no live stream or no activity in the opening area, please check back again at another time or day.

Ballot Review

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A team of two people visually inspect the ballot to determine if the votes as marked by the voter can be properly read by our scanning equipment. Teams use the Voter Intent Manual   produced by the Office of the Secretary of State which ensures consistent determination of voter intent.

If voter intent cannot be determined by use of the manual or other established directions from the Canvassing Board, ballots are forwarded to the Canvassing Board for final determination.

Ballot review does not happen every day, or at all hours. If there is no live stream or no activity in the opening area, please check back again at another time or day.

Scanning and Tabulation

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Once a ballot is ready for tabulation, a machine scans the ballot and stores the images on a secure and closed system.

Tabulation occurs after 8 p.m. on Election Night and results are produced and made public. Scanning and tabulation continue until all eligible votes are counted and the election is certified. The tabulation server is secured in a room that is monitored by security cameras, biometric controlled access and tamper evident seals.

Scanning does not happen every day, or at all hours. If there is no live stream or no activity in the scanning area, please check back again at another time or day.