Snohomish Co., WA Auditor calls for switch to vote-by-mail election

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http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/05/08/16/100loc_mail001.cfm

The Herald - Everett, Wash. - www.HeraldNet.com

Published: Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Auditor calls for switch to vote-by-mail election
It would save the county more than $1.5 million, he tells the County Council.

By Jeff Switzer
Herald Writer

EVERETT - Snohomish County should close its election-day polling places and change to all-mail elections, county Auditor Bob Terwilliger said.

"The logical decision here is to convert to an all-mail ballot," Terwilliger said. "I would like Snohomish County to convert to all-mail ballot voting."

Terwilliger's comments come as Snohomish County officials consider how to pay to keep election-night polling places open. A special meeting and discussion is planned Wednesday afternoon.

State law requires that by January, each of Snohomish County's electronic voting machines provide a paper record of every vote. To comply, the county would need to spend $1 million in equipment.

Officials said 875 paper audit machines are needed. Terwilliger said $670,000 also will be needed each year to store the new equipment and centralize storage of all voting machines.

"The money issue is overwhelming," Terwilliger said.

By comparison, becoming an all-mail ballot county will cost $35,400 up front. The money would pay for 30 machines capable of providing paper records for a handful of electronic voting machines needed for sight-impaired voters.

Snohomish County elections are budgeted to cost $2.95 million this year, including voter registration.

The Snohomish County Council has final say on how elections operate.

Four members have said they are in favor of keeping the polls open in addition to absentee ballot voting.

"I go back and forth," County Councilman Dave Gossett said. "In the best of all worlds, I prefer not to change, but it's a lot of money not to change. We've really got to think about that."

County Executive Aaron Reardon said he supports moving to all-mail elections for the cost and increased security.

"The public has expressed a greater degree of confidence in the security of mail-in ballots vs. voting machines," Reardon said. Voters remain skeptical of voting machines, he said.