Here’s what key Whatcom officials are saying to ease your election anxiety
On the day before the Nov. 3 election, nearly three-fourths of Whatcom County voters have already cast their ballots and Whatcom officials issued a joint statement to ease anxiety over election security and the possibility of unrest over the outcome.
Data posted at the county Auditor’s Office shows that 73% of Whatcom County’s record 158,192 registered voters have returned their ballots in Washington state’s vote-by-mail general election.
Statewide turnout was 68%, according to the unofficial VoteWashington.info site that takes data from the Secretary of State’s site. It reports that Whatcom’s turnout was fourth-highest in the state on Monday, Nov. 2.
Those ballots are being scanned into 39 Washington county auditors’ computer systems that are “air-gapped” from the internet and they will be tabulated when voting ends at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Results will be uploaded to the state Secretary of State’s Office computer system using clean flash drives and the numbers will be double-checked before they are posted, to avoid outside interference.
“We, independently elected leaders of Whatcom County, are united in our confidence in the democratic process and the integrity of our electoral system,” said the statement from Executive Satpal SIdhu, Sheriff Bill Elfo and Auditor Diana Bradrick.
President Trump continued to attack mailed ballots as less than secure and threatened to challenge election results in states like Pennsylvania where mailed ballots can be counted up to three days after the election as long as they were postmarked before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
In Washington state, ballot dropboxes are sealed at 8 p.m. Tuesday and ballots that arrive by mail after the election — but were postmarked before 8 p.m. Nov. 3 — will be counted until the election is certified at 10 a.m. Nov. 24.
Sidhu, Elfo and Bradrick also addressed community concerns about post-election unrest amid heightened political tensions and the new coronavirus pandemic.
“Please be assured that all reasonable and prudent measures have been taken to anticipate, prevent and prepare for attempts to undermine the integrity of the election process or incite violence,” the statement said. “We are closely monitoring the situation and are well prepared to respond to any challenge to election security or public safety.”
Last week, Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood issued a similar statement, assuring residents that city officials support free speech and assembly but are prepared for any post-election disturbances.
Elfo issued a separate statement last week.
“Extensive efforts have been undertaken to plan and prepare for the protection of the First Amendment rights of everyone and to quell any violence or other criminal activity,” Elfo said in the statement. “Deputies and other officers are trained and will remain available to quickly respond if a need arises.”
Further, Elfo distanced himself from a political action committee ad that appeared to link him to claims that the Democratic Party supports rioting and violent protest.
It was paid for by a conservation PAC called the 42nd Legislative District GOP.
In an interview, Elfo told The Bellingham Herald that he did not authorize the PAC to use his support for Republican candidates in the ad.
“As always, I require our deputies to adhere to their oath of office and enforce the law fairly and impartially without regard to people’s political affiliations or lack thereof,” Elfo told The Herald in an email.
“Since I did not make or authorize the statements and do not ascribe to the content thereof, the public should not have any concern with my ability to deal fairly with any post-election unrest,” Elfo said.
Similarly, Bellingham Police Chief David Doll told The Herald that no political favoritism was intended by an Oct. 11 message on the department’s social media page.
A group called Bellingham Freedom lined Meridian Street expressing its support for law enforcement.
That group received a note of appreciation on the department’s Facebook page, but critics later pointed out Bellingham Freedom’s connections to the Republican Party.
“Certainly, it is not our intent to support any political group,” Doll told The Herald. “There was no intent to make any endorsement.”
It was simply a statement of gratitude for the support, he said.
This story was originally published November 2, 2020 at 12:28 PM.
