In 2020, then-President Donald Trump claimed there were glitches in counting ballots. In 2022, some Washington Republicans have revived this claim by deploying ballot watchers to some polling stations.

So when incidents of ballot box vandalism occurred recently in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, our long-trusted mail-in voting system was once again under attack. Even the US Department of Homeland Security has warned states to be vigilant against those who wish to disrupt the democratic process.

A fire was set in one ballot box and incendiary devices were placed in two other ballot boxes in Portland and Vancouver, damaging some ballots.

King County voters can rest assured that their ballots are safe and secure.

Not all drop boxes in Washington are made the same. Each county is responsible for purchasing its own drop boxes.

King County’s 85 boxes are made of quarter-inch thick steel and have fire suppression systems that are replaced regularly. Additionally, the deposition slot is only a quarter of an inch thick, making it impossible to deposit an incendiary device inside. County Elections Director Julie Wise said the boxes are frequently emptied and law enforcement officials go through them.

“I truly believe we have some of the most secure drop boxes here in King County, and I encourage people to use them,” Wise said.

In addition to drop boxes, King County voters have the option of mailing in their ballots or voting at one of seven vote centers that also offer voter registration, even on Election Day.

As of Wednesday, 500,000 King County residents had voted, out of 1,450,000 registered voters, Wise said. By Tuesday, she expects voter turnout in King County to be 83 percent, a drop from the 2020 presidential election, when 86.5 percent of registered voters turned out. rendered. Statewide, just over 1.9 million people had voted as of Wednesday.

Besides relying on the county and law enforcement to protect ballots, there are things voters can do to protect their ballot. The first is to vote early to have time to address possible irregularities such as signature verification. Include contact information for election officials to use if necessary.