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Logic & Accuracy Advisory & General Election Coverage Opportunities

October 7, 2026

Dear Media Partners,

Welcome to the start of election season! This email serves as your advisory for the Logic & Accuracy test taking place this Thursday, October 8 at 1:00 p.m. (more information below), and provides information about this election, other coverage opportunities, and what you can expect from King County Elections (KCE) in this busy midterm election.

Logic & Accuracy Test King County Elections will perform the county's official Logic and Accuracy test on ballot counting and processing equipment at 1 p.m. Thursday, January 16, at the King County Elections office, 919 SW Grady Way in Renton.

KCE does Logic and Accuracy testing prior to every election to ensure that the tabulation system is accurately programmed and accurately counting votes.

Earlier in the day, accessible voting units (AVU) will be tested to ensure each AVU prints voter selections accurately. Test ballots printed from assistive voting units will be included in the official Logic and Accuracy test at 1:00 p.m.

If interested in attending, please RSVP to Halei Watkins, hawatkins@kingcounty.gov.

New check in policy at Elections HQ

Beginning in this election, KCE now requires all visitors who access a restricted area to show photo ID when getting checked in and credentialed at Elections HQ.

Restricted areas include the ballot processing floor, administrative areas, and warehouse. We’ve implemented this change to make sure that we’re keeping our staff, visitors, and elections all safe and secure. This is a long-recommended security practice to help us have a better understanding of who is in the building at any given time.

This does apply to media partners, so please plan to build in a few extra minutes when checking in.

Accepted forms of identification include:

  • State issued drivers’ license or identification card
  • Passport or passport card
  • Press credential from established media outlet with photo
  • US Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
  • King County or public agency employee ID
  • Student ID
  • Tribal ID

If you have questions, reach out to Halei Watkins at hawatkins@kingcounty.gov.

Turnout projection

KCE is projecting 75% turnout in the November 2026 General Election. This represents about 1.1 million ballots returned from the county’s 1.45 million registered voters.

Projections are based on turnout from previous similar elections. In the 2022 General Election, turnout reached 66%. The 2018 General Election saw a peak midterm turnout at 76%.

Dates and Deadlines

October 14 – Ballots mailed, Local Voters’ Pamphlets already arriving

October 15 – Official ballot drop boxes open

October 19 – If a voter does not receive their ballot by October 19, they should give KCE a call at 206-296-8683

October 24 – National Vote Early Day

October 26 – Deadline to register to vote or update your registration online or by mail. *You can still register to vote in person until 8 p.m. on Election Day

October 31 – Vote Centers open across King County from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

November 2 – Vote Centers open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

November 3 – Election Day!

  • Drop boxes and Vote Centers close at 8:00 p.m. sharp
  • Results posted after 8:00 p.m. – one posting only, no second drops later on Election Night

November 4 through 23 – Results updated on weekdays at 4:00 p.m.

November 23 – Deadline at 4:30 p.m. to fix (cure) a signature challenge and have your ballot counted

November 24 – Election is certified, final results posted.
See more election dates.

100 official ballot drop boxes

KCE has added 15 official ballot drop boxes this year, bringing us to a total of 100 drop boxes for King County.

This is a big milestone, and one that comes at a time when we are strongly encouraging voters to return their ballot to a drop box to ensure that it’s counted as on-time.

70% of ballots returned came in through a drop box in the recent August Primary Election, and we expect that number to climb in the General Election.

New-in-2026 locations include:

  1. Skykomish Community Center
  2. Des Moines Municipal Court
  3. Ravensdale Park
  4. Big Finn Hill Park – Kirkland
  5. Auburn Valley YMCA
  6. Green River College – Auburn
  7. Bellevue College
  8. Shoreline College
  9. Safeway on Kent-Kangley Road – Kent
  10. Star Lake Transit Station – Kent
  11. Seattle Central Library – downtown Seattle
  12. Northgate Library
  13. Montlake Community Center
  14. Phinney Ridge (62nd & Phinney)
  15. Belltown (on 4th between Bell and Blanchard)

If you’re interested in diving into the security or accessibility of drop boxes, would like to do a drive-along with a ballot collection team, or have other questions or story ideas around drop boxes, don’t hesitate to reach out to Halei Watkins at hawatkins@kingcounty.gov.

Covering elections in King County

There will be lots of interest in this election, and there are lots of opportunities to educate voters about how their elections work. You are an important partner in transparency and in helping make sure that voters have the information they need to confidently participate, and we are happy to talk through story ideas and answer questions.

Here are some upcoming opportunities, as well as when there will be the most to see at Elections HQ. Other opportunities may be added, and we’ll send out an advisory ahead of each event.

October 8 at 1:00 p.m. – Logic & Accuracy test (more information above)

October 15 and 16 – Ribbon cutting celebrations at several new drop boxes. Media availability with Director Wise and other local leaders. Locations and times to come!

October 19 - 10:00 a.m. - 100th Drop Box Celebration with the Seahawks dancers and Blitz at the new drop box at the Star Lake Transit Station in Kent – voters can bring their ballot and get an I Voted sticker and other fun giveaways!

October 19 – 23 – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Ballot processing teams are training and onboarding this week, with ballot processing in full swing by Friday. Daily drop box pick ups.

October 26 – 30 – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Ballot processing throughout the day. Daily drop box pick ups.

November 3, Election Day –

  • 6:00 a.m. mail arrival and early morning coverage – 6 am live shot from inside the facility is available if you RSVP in advance. Please arrive by 5:45 a.m.
  • Ballot processing throughout the day.
  • Vote Centers and drop boxes open until 8:00 p.m. sharp.

November 4 – 6 – 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Ballot processing throughout the day.

What voters need to know right now

  • The best way to prepare for this election is to make sure you’re registered at your current address and make a vote plan.
    • Register to vote or update your registration online at VoteWA.gov through October 26
    • Making a vote plan helps voters think through the small decisions that lead up to the action of voting. A template will arrive in the Local Voters’ Pamphlet, or voters can find one at kce.wiki/VotePlan to think through their voting plan today.
  • Keep an eye on your mailbox from October 15 to 19 – your ballot should arrive in that window! If your ballot doesn’t arrive by October 19, call King County Elections at 206-296-8683.
  • An official ballot drop box is the best and fastest way to return your ballot directly back to King County Elections. There are now 100 across King County, and they close at 8:00 p.m. sharp on Election Day, November 3.
  • If choosing to mail your ballot back, USPS recommends mailing at least one week before Election Day. KCE strongly encourages you to return it as soon as you receive it. Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day to be counted as on-time.
  • All voters should track their ballot until it’s counted. You can track it online, or sign up for ballot alerts to receive text and email alerts about where your ballot is in the process.

What you can expect from KCE this election

We will send out regular advisories and releases about upcoming events and opportunities for coverage throughout October and early November.

You can also reach out at any time with a question, or to schedule an interview or time to come in and get some b-roll. We will accommodate as much as possible.

For the fastest response, email the Elections Media inbox at elections.media@kingcounty.gov or give us a call at 206-477-4111.

You can also reach out directly to Communications Manager Halei Watkins (hawatkins@kingcounty.gov, cell: 206-200-0036) or Chief of Staff Kendall Levan Hodson (Kendall.levanhodson@kingcounty.gov, 206-263-9706).

For more information, contact:
Halei Watkins
206-477-4111
hawatkins@kingcounty.gov
kingcounty.gov/elections