Washington County elections office calls November 2024 a successful, secure election; staff answer community concerns about vote-by-mail and observation

Washington County elections staff told the Board of Commissioners at a work session that the November 2024 general election was conducted accurately and in accordance with state and federal law, and they outlined steps the office takes year‑round to prepare, secure and verify mail ballots.

"The November was a successful election conducted accurately and in accordance with all applicable state and federal elections laws," said Dan Forrester, Elections Division Manager. He and other elections leaders reviewed the office's ballot design and proofing process, logic‑and‑accuracy testing, voter registration updates, ballot mailing and tabulation procedures, and post‑election adjudication.

The presentation matters because members of the public and some commissioners have raised repeated concerns this cycle about the security of vote‑by‑mail, the use of tabulation machines and the degree of observer access to secure areas. Elections staff and Deputy County Counsel Jason Busch explained the county's legal constraints, described current observation practices and identified options and costs for expanding transparency.

Staff reported the office accepted and processed 301,105 returned ballots in November 2024. With the county's voter registration near 400,000 at the time, Forrester said that equated to roughly 75.27% turnout. He described the scale of the operation: 171 ballot styles for this election, a test deck of about 9,000 ballots used in logic‑and‑accuracy testing, and an intensive signature‑verification and adjudication process after ballots are received.

Forrester also described registration work: during the November cycle the office…