Thurston County Auditor advises returning ballots early this year. Here’s why
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Olympian Election 2025 Coverage
There are 31 ballot drop boxes located across the county. Ballots are due Nov. 4, 2025.
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Voters who choose to mail their ballots ought to do so at least one week before the Nov. 4 election day this year, Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall warns.
State law requires counted ballots to be postmarked no later than the day of the election. However, Hall said recent changes at the U.S. Postal Service mean ballots are not guaranteed to be postmarked the same day they are received.
As a result, Hall is advising voters to mail in their ballots no later than Oct. 28. Alternatively, voters may submit their ballot at one of the county’s 31 ballot drop boxes by 8 p.m. on election day.
Halls shared her warning about mail delays as voters are starting to receive their ballots in the mail for the upcoming general election. On Wednesday, the Auditor’s election division announced it has mailed more than 200,000 ballots to voters.
“Ideally, people will use drop boxes,” Hall said. “That truly is the best way for people to return their ballot because it’s direct to us.”
What’s changed at the USPS?
The U.S. Postal Service announced in August that postmark dates “do not inherently or necessarily align” with the date that the USPS first accepts mail.
The recent changes are part of a trend that has led to delays in mail processing. USPS consolidated facilities and removed automation equipment from 2016 to 2020, Hall said. More recently, USPS has started transporting mail from local offices to a regional center only once a day, she said.
Mail sent from Thurston County is sent to a regional facility in Seattle. So, if someone drops off a ballot after a mailbox pick-up time, it won’t be postmarked until after it reaches that facility, Hall said.
“So, there’s no guarantee that even within about four days of mailing that your ballot could be postmarked,” Hall said. “They will offer us no guarantees at all.”
Hall said it been good practice to mail in ballots early, but now it’s “serious.” In any event, she advises voters to get their ballots submitted as early as possible. “If people know who they’re going to vote for and how they’re going to vote on issues, they really don’t have to wait until election day to mail their ballot.”
Voting early also allows the county to report more results on election night. Typically, about 50% of ballots arrive on election day and after, Hall said.
“In close races, it’s really torture on the candidates waiting for those ballots to be counted,” Hall said.
Voter best practices
Hall said the ballot boxes have been strategically placed across the county, including on busy thoroughfares. A full list of the county’s ballot drop boxes should be included with the ballots voters receive in the mail along with an “I Voted” sticker.
The list and an interactive map also can be viewed online at ThurstonWAVotes.gov.
Any registered voter who does not receive a ballot by Oct. 22 is advised to contact the Auditor’s election division at 360-786-5408 or elections@co.thurston.wa.us.
Ballots for military and overseas voters registered in Thurston County were mailed on Sept. 19, according to the Auditor’s Office.
Voters can check their registration and ballot status at VoteWA.gov.
Voters may register to vote, update their current registration, obtain a ballot, or use a voting assistance device at the Thurston County Voter Services building at 2915 29th Ave. SW in Tumwater.
This story was originally published October 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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