King mails out record number of absentee ballots

After King County Elections sends a batch of absentee ballots today, the office will have mailed a record 742,000 absentee ballots.

Officials expect up to 69 percent of the county's ballots to be cast through the mail, according to King County Elections.

Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 4, or dropped off at a polling place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day or at a 24-hour ballot drop box, said Elections Director Sherril Huff.

Information about the drop boxes will be mailed with the ballots.

Huff advised voters to sign absentee envelopes but not the ballots, and to respond to any letters from the election office immediately in case there's a problem with the ballot.

The county has implemented more than 300 reforms since 2005, she said, including using illustrated instructions instead of text.

People not registered to vote have until Monday to register in person at the King County Elections office in Renton.

The office will be open for extended hours Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. to assist with last-minute registrations.

Voters who do not receive their mail ballots by Friday, Oct. 24 are urged to call the voter hotline at 206-296-VOTE.

Sample ballots and voter pamphlets are available at http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/elections/200811.aspx.

Noelene Clark: 206-464-2321 or nclark@seattletimes.com