RICHLAND, Wash. – As Election Day approaches, The Benton and Franklin County Auditor’s Offices are focusing on ensuring every vote is counted securely. Local election offices are implementing security measures to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
Ballot drop boxes are placed in well-lit public locations with surveillance cameras nearby. Each drop box is equipped with a fire suppression device to prevent ballots from being destroyed. The office also requires all election workers to undergo training and exercises to ensure they are qualified to handle important documents.
The Benton County Auditor’s Office never lets ballots go unsupervised, requiring two people to be present when moving or processing ballots.
Brenda Chilton, Benton County Auditor, emphasized the importance of ballot supervision.
“We require two members of our staff to be with ballots,” Chilton said. “Whether it’s going to the post office to retrieve the ballots that have been mailed to us or the pickup teams that drive around and pick up the ballots. That’s usually done with a member of law enforcement to make sure that they are safe.”
The Auditor’s Office provides other ways to submit ballots.
“We do have people that are not comfortable putting ballots in the exterior drop boxes. So we do have interior drop boxes. One here at the voting center that you can drop your ballot off in a box inside the facility,” Chilton said.
Mailing in ballots is another safe way to cast your vote. The Auditor’s office says around half of the ballots they receive come by mail.
Teresa Carson, a temporary election worker in Benton County, shared her experience and commitment to the electoral process.
“What I enjoyed is just learning about the process and how everything runs,” Carson said. “Because before I didn’t know how the elections all went. And I know some people think that their vote doesn’t count, but everybody’s vote does count.”
Carson, who is retired, has been working as a temporary election worker for the past two years. She started as an observer, ensuring ballots were correctly processed and signed.
Carson expressed her enthusiasm for continuing her service to the community and country.
“I would like to do it for the future,” Carson said. “Meeting nice people and helping out.”
Ballot drop box locations for Benton and Franklin Counties can be found here.
