Northwest

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Do you have a news tip? newstips@heraldnet.com | 425.339.3400   Published: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Gov. Gregoire calls for more timely election results Associated Press OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire cited Seattle’s drawn-out mayoral race Monday as the most recent example of why the state needs an earlier deadline for mail-in ballots. Nearly a week after Tuesday’s election, elections officials in King County finished counting all but 33,000 of the more than 1 million ballots received. Joe Mallahan conceded after Monday’s tally was released. Earlier in the day, Gregoire said that the days, and potentially weeks, of not knowing the outcome of an election is hard not only on the candidates, but on the people who voted for them. “Those candidates deserve to know. The people deserve to know,” Gregoire said about the counting process. Gregoire wants to work with Secretary of State Sam Reed to make changes that ensure speedier results. Counties now report results for most of the ballots they have in hand by the end of election night. However, because many voters drop ballots in the mail or into special drop boxes on Election Day, the forms don’t reach election officials for several more days. The system usually leaves about half of the vote outstanding at the end of the night. All but one of the state’s 39 counties vote entirely by mail. Pierce County maintains traditional poll sites, but most of its voters mail in ballots anyway. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. From behind bars, pal tells Colton Harris-Moore to keep running 2. A student by day, he's homeless by night 3. Colton Harris-Moore’s mother says he’s not out in the cold 4. Vigil at Mariner High School honors two crash victims 5. Attorney’s daughter: Mom had to have deal with Tiger Woods 6. Sen. Haugen’s husband sued by her former aide 7. Korean Air to buy Boeing 747-8 passenger planes 8. Fund set up to benefit children of couple killed in crash 9. Everett approves a tribute to key figure in its history 10. Snohomish County home sales up; prices fall 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

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