Clark County, Washington state, is taking proactive measures to ensure the security of ballot boxes after recent incidents of ballots being destroyed by fires in the Pacific Northwest. At least 66 seasonal workers are being hired to monitor all 22 ballot drop boxes in the county around the clock.
The workers, stationed at a distance from the drop boxes, will observe and report any suspicious activity to authorities without interfering. Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey emphasized that the observers will play a crucial role in safeguarding the integrity of the election process.
To cover the additional costs of hiring these workers, the elections office is allocating an extra $75,000 through Election Day. The seasonal employees will be paid $23 per hour for their monitoring duties. It is noteworthy that specific expertise in elections or security is not required for this role, as the workers will receive training from elections staff on how to effectively observe without confrontation.
In addition to the hiring of observers, Clark County has implemented a new schedule for collecting ballots from drop boxes. Ballots will now be picked up by 5:30 p.m. local time and promptly transported to the election's office on the same evening. This swift collection process aims to enhance the efficiency and security of ballot handling in the county.
