705,000 Washington voters cast ballots as federal pressure mounts

Drop boxes are handling the bulk of the early vote in Washington state.

As of Friday afternoon, 705,231 ballots had been returned. Of that total, 66.4% arrived via drop boxes. This shift away from the mail reflects a strategy promoted by state and local officials.

The volume of early voting varies by region. Jefferson County in western Washington leads the state with 32.8% of ballots returned. Five other counties, including San Juan, Asotin, Thurston, Lincoln, and Skagit, have also surpassed the 20% threshold. In terms of raw numbers, King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties account for 47% of all ballots mailed or dropped off.

Across the state, 13.7% of the 5.15 million registered voters have turned in a ballot. That figure is slightly lower than the 13.9% recorded at the same stage four years ago. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs does not expect final turnout on November 3 to match the 64.6% seen in 2022. He cited the absence of a high-profile statewide race as a factor, noting that voter engagement often rises during competitive contests like the 2022 U.S. Senate race.

Hobbs expressed satisfaction with the reliance on drop boxes. Since August, election officials have warned that the U.S. Postal Service is failing to postmark mail-in ballots on the day of receipt. This issue stems from reduced service and distant processing centers. Voters who mail their ballots are advised to do so at least a week before Election Day. Hobbs recommended that voters visit their local post office next week to have a clerk postmark the envelope on the spot.

The postal delay issue affected the August primary, where more than 20,000 ballots were rejected due to late postmarks. In rural counties, the percentage of rejected ballots in the current cycle is higher than in the 2024 primary. In the current election, 4,229 ballots have been challenged. Of those, 2,026 had signature mismatches, and 1,374 were unsigned. Voters with challenged ballots will be given a chance to cure the defects.

Secretary of State Hobbs describes the current federal environment as a source of ongoing friction. He stated that the federal government is not sharing real-time security information with the same frequency as in past cycles. On Wednesday, Hobbs said he expected a classified briefing soon. Washington is part of a multistate task force monitoring for potential bad actors.

The U.S. Department of Justice has threatened election officials with criminal prosecution if they fail to prevent noncitizens from voting. In recent weeks, federal authorities have issued more than 60 subpoenas for individual voter records. Hobbs said his office is reviewing these requests to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. He noted that the administration is suing California over ballot counting, a move opposed by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown.

Federal election observers are expected in some counties. The Trump administration informed King County leaders this week that monitors would be sent, though their specific role remains unclear. Critics worry about interference, while the Justice Department describes the efforts as routine. Hobbs and Brown created a guide to help officials manage these interactions. Hobbs characterized the federal government's behavior as a constant push and pull, saying they are throwing monkey wrenches at the process while not being fully present.