Submitted by Thurston County
The Thurston County Auditor’s Office is aware of a new effort of door-to-door canvassing by a voter research project. These canvasses are not associated with the Thurston County Auditor’s Office. Reports indicate the canvassers are wearing name tags that say: “Voter Verification Project – Election Volunteer.” The Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections division does not go door-to-door to gather voter information.
“I am troubled to hear that these door-to-door canvassers are asking voters for their signatures. Voters should not share their signatures with anyone they are not familiar with,” said Mary Hall, Thurston County Auditor. “Voters are under no obligation to provide information to someone who comes to their door asking about their voting information.”
A previous voter research effort was reported in the fall of 2021 and resulted in a report that is reviewed here.
Canvassing for and with voter information is legal under state law. While some voting information (such as name, address, whether you voted in an election) is public record, what you confirm to someone at your door is up to you. Your response is completely voluntary.
“It is perfectly within your rights to refuse to answer any questions from someone you do not know and trust,” Hall said.
Anybody claiming to know which candidates or issues you voted for is not telling the truth. All ballots are completely secret because your ballot is separated from any identifying information before it is counted. Even election officials do not know how you voted, let alone third parties. No Thurston County Auditor employee will ever ask you who you voted for.
Thurston County Elections is diligent in maintaining the voter rolls for our 200,000 registered voters. We look to multiple sources (including the Social Security Administration, the state Department of Licensing and the United States Postal Service) to keep that information as up to date as possible.
Before processing, every ballot undergoes a thorough verification process to ensure that the signature on it matches a signature we have on record. Our dedicated election staff members are trained in signature verification. The training covers skills to identify consistent traits in signatures, such as height, spacing, and tilt. If a signature doesn’t match, staff sets the ballot aside for further examination. After each challenged ballot receives a meticulous review, we proceed to send a letter to the voter. The letter gives the voter the opportunity to correct their signature so their vote can be counted.
A process to challenge voter registrations already exists. Any registered voter can challenge another’s voter registration if they believe they do not reside at the address on their voter registration record. The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office can also initiate challenges to a registration.
If you want to update your voter registration record, you can do so online at VoteWA.gov or give us a call at 360.786.5408.
