 Nov. 2, 2004 General Election Mid-Day UpdateTO: Election Stakeholders FROM: Dean Logan, Director RE: General Election Mid-Day Update DATE: November 2, 2004 Activity thus far appears to support projections of a high voter turnout in today’s election. Anecdotal evidence gathered through phone activity and talking with voters and poll workers alike indicates that most polling locations have experienced a consistent flow of voters since the polls opened at 7 o’clock this morning. Likewise, activity at our Mail Ballot Operations Satellite where absentee ballots are processed and counted remains at peak levels. Ballot counting started just after 7 a.m. and will continue until about 6 p.m. this evening when the database is backed up, sealed and brought up to the Administration Building for the first results release just after the polls close at 8 p.m. Here’s a quick update on Election Day hot topics… Provisional BallotsConsistent with the high turnout, all indications are that the number of provisional ballots cast today will be significant. There are number of reasons why a voter may be issued a provisional ballot – the most common reasons include: · Absentee voters who either did not receive their ballot in the mail or who chose to vote at the polls instead; · Voters whose names do not appear in the poll book; · Voters registered in another county and unable to get to their polling location before the polls close; · Voters who have moved and their voter registration have not been updated. These ballots are researched during the 15-day canvassing period leading up to the certification of the election. Once the voters’ eligibility is determined, their ballot is counted and included in the certified results of the election. Only votes cast in contests for which the voter is eligible will be counted. Provisional ballots for voters in other counties are forwarded to their home county for verification and counting. Voters casting provisional ballots are provided with a reference number that allows them to check on the status of their provisional ballot beginning the Monday following the election. This information is available via the Elections Website or by phone at 206-296-VOTE. For more than three decades Washington has provided voters with this fail-safe voting method – a process adopted nationwide by Congress following the 2000 Presidential election. In the 2000 Presidential election more than 78% of the provisional ballots cast in King County were found to be valid and counted in the final returns. In the 2004 September primary, 90% of the provisional ballots were counted. Election ObserversWe have experienced excellent cooperation with the election observers today. They have been great about contacting the Elections office directly with their comments and concerns, which has enabled us to address and resolve issues quickly and without incident. Absentee BallotsAbsentee ballot returns continue to be consistent with our projected turnout. 646,468 absentee ballots issued through Monday, November 1st Results ReportingWe began tabulating absentee ballots at 7:00 a.m. and will have the first results posted at approximately 8:15 p.m., shortly after the polls close. These results will be representative of absentee ballots returned through Thursday, October 28th. Poll result posting will begin at approximately 9:00 p.m. and will continue until all precincts have been reported for the evening. We expect the Unofficial Election Night Final to represent between 60 and 65% of the total turnout projected for the election. We will continue to count absentee ballots and report updated returns daily at 4:00 p.m. through Friday, November 8th. The General Election will be certified on November 17th. For additional information or to monitor Election returns this evening please continue to monitor our website at www.metrokc.gov/elections. Please direct questions or concerns to our Voter Hotline at 206 296-VOTE (8683) or send an email to elections@metrokc.gov Thanks! |
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Updated: Nov. 2, 2004 King County | Elections | News | Services | Comments | Search
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