County votes to vote by mail

Die-hard poll voters better stock up on stamps.

They and all other Spokane city and county voters will be casting their ballots by mail from here on out.

Spokane County commissioners Tuesday eliminated poll voting and created an all vote-by-mail system in a 2-1 vote.

While Commissioners Mark Richard and Todd Mielke approved the change already endorsed by a majority of Spokane County voters in November, Commissioner Phil Harris balked.

Oregon voters, who now all vote by mail, have had a largely positive reaction to that system, said Richard, who added that there haven’t been significant problems there with voter fraud since the state made the switch.

Voters will still have the option of dropping off their ballots on Election Day at one of five service centers. And mobile voting units will assist people living in nursing homes and other residential-care facilities in the days leading up to the election.

Voters passed an advisory vote on the issue by a 14 percent margin.

“No one wants to go against the will of the people, but sometimes you have to make a decision based on what’s right,” said Harris, who opposed an all vote-by-mail system on the grounds that it would be more expensive than a mixed poll and mail-voting system, and has a greater potential for fraud.

Harris added that such a system would force the county to pay for postage to the voter and back to the county.

Such declarations prompted Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton to shake her head “no” from the gallery in the commissioners’ hearing room.

Dalton said that return postage is not required now, but added the Washington state Legislature may require it in the future.

She pushed the commissioners to make the change because new federal laws would have required the county to buy new poll voting equipment had it not changed its system.

“I’m relieved that the commissioners have made the decision to vote by mail,” she said Tuesday.

Dalton said she doesn’t expect the all-mail voting change to improve voter turnout during November general elections, but added that experience in Oregon has shown greater turnout for special elections, like those on school bond issues.

“What that means to me is a louder, stronger voice from the public,” Richard said.