Elections proved reforms were successful

The 2008 general election was remarkable in many ways – record turnout, especially among younger people, long-awaited approval of regional transportation system expansion, and the election of the first African-American president.

What was not remarkable, however, was how the election was conducted and tabulated. After four years of extensive oversight and reform of King County Elections, I was pleased to witness one of the smoothest-run elections in King County’s history.

Elections division staff and the reforms implemented by the King County Council resulted in an election process which is arguably one of the best in the nation.

Rewind to the 2004 election. I think we all remember how historically close the governor’s race was, how ballots were lost and found, miscounted and recounted, and how results see-sawed. As concerning as the 2004 election was, it also daylighted the desperate need for reform, need that may not have been as easily recognizable if the election hadn’t been so close.

Even before the 2004 election was certified, the King County Council began work on making sure that the same mistakes would never be repeated. We identified three key areas – Leadership and Culture, Security of Ballots and their Tabulation, and Election Streamlining – requiring reform. We then set to work to implement oversight and real change.

With the help of the Citizen Elections Oversight Committee, appointed in 2005, I co-sponsored legislation that directed nearly 300 reforms of the elections division. They included:

Leadership and Culture

Appointing a new Director of Elections;

Placing on the ballot the option to elect, rather than appoint director in order to increase accountability and transparency;

Appointing a management consultant to provide an analysis of cultural changes needed;

Requesting quarterly reports of reform progress, to ensure changes were being made;

Security of Ballots and their Tabulation

Requested detailed plans for improving voter registration records, addressing security relating to facilities, personnel, electronic systems and ballots;

Appropriated funding for new ballot-tabulation and tracking equipment and software;

Approved software for signature verification and project management (to manage the timelines for completing each election task);

Required an electronic ballot tracking system be put in place, much like those UPS uses to track packages;

Mandated the independent, outside testing of all new equipment, to ensure accuracy and eliminate concerns about voter fraud;

Streamlining Elections

Consolidated elections facilities into one building in Renton, creating a single point where ballots are sent, stored, and counted;

Transitioned from a dual system for running elections (polls and vote by mail) to 100 percent vote by mail, to decrease the risk of human error and complexity caused by two separate voting systems. King County’s first all-vote-by mail election will be held this coming Feb. 3.

Improved poll worker training for more consistency across voting locations and in ballot tabulation.

I am pleased with the many reforms put into place over the last four years, and proud of the staff who have embraced culture changes, a new office, and a major overhaul of the way our elections are run. The 2008 election was indeed a testament to the hard work of the last four years to improve, adapt and embrace a new way of doing the people’s business.