Pre-Election Day processing of Clallam County voter ballots is going slower than anticipated, prompting an unusual Saturday effort at the county courthouse in Port Angeles.
The slowdown is due to volume, write-ins and the chore of removing chads from the punchcard ballots, Auditor Cathleen McKeown said Thursday.
The ballots cast in Clallam’s all-mail election won’t be counted until after 8 p.m. Tuesday, when polling closes throughout Washington state.
But they’re being readied for the counting ahead of Election Day.
McKeown said election crews will work Saturday processing ballots to ensure that all ballots received by today will be among those counted Tuesday night.
Ballots received Saturday through Tuesday night will be counted on Friday, Nov. 5.
The public can observe Saturday’s ballot processing, McKeown said.
Because the courthouse will be locked for the weekend, people wishing to watch the processing must call Patty Rosand, election supervisor, at 360-417-2217.
She will admit them into the building, McKeown said.