I hinted about it last week when I announced that I was going to start covering the news again until a local paper came back to town. I knew this was going to happen, I just didn’t think it would happen so fast. I have even been posting puff pieces and trying real hard not to turn over rocks.
Well, I kicked a big one today. What am I supposed to do ignore it?
its Election Day. Time for the standard puff pieces. Hey, remember to get out and vote. You know the drill.
I went up to the county offices and inside to talk to the lady as the election desk. “Everything normal?” I asked. She related it was pretty dull, nothing big going on. I thanked her and went out side to in front of the building where the drop box is always located to take a picture for the post here. “Well, that’s strange”. I thought…..it was gone.
Down at the end of the street was a sign saying DROP BOX THIS WAY…..so I started walking. I was going to get my picture.
I had a nice little walk, all the way around the courthouse behind the old deserted county jail. I kept thinking that they moved it to infront of the Sheriff Office for security. Nope. Nope. And there in the middle of nowhere, with no eyes on it at all..was you guessed it. Our county ballot drop box.
The county drop box. Im taking this picture by the old deserted jail building.
Conveniently located on the one way little alley where you can pull up your car drivers window right up close to it and stuff what ever and how much ever you want in the thing…….and nobody would or could ever see you. Completely isolated. No eyes on it at all. In fact, there is no parking anywhere near it to walk up to it.
At the time I was wondering what all the stuff this one lady was shoving in there, and there was a lot, up walked a Sheriff deputy going to his car. He said hi, more wanting to know what this clown was doing standing there taking pictures with his mouth open.
Nice guy and I am not going to name him here. He was as shocked as I was it was there hidden like that and agreed it was ripe for fraud. He even told me there weren’t any cameras around when I asked and even pointed to where they were before they took them down. No need for them, it’s an old crumbling building that’s falling down.
I stayed there for a while. Car after car. Quick little 5 second drop off. And then there were a few that were there quite a while. You could see them putting things in it.
Ok, so much for the quick little puff piece.
I went back into the County Auditor Office and spoke to the election lady at the desk again. I’m not naming her here. She doesn’t need the grief, she just works there. “Who moved it and why?” I asked. This time identifying myself in advance with this website and it was a formal request for information.
The County Auditor did it. She told me. I asked her if there were cameras on it, she said she didn’t think so. She said she thought they were worried about a flood taking it away. A flood? Seriously. The county offices are on a hill above town. I asked if it was secure from tampering or stuffing. She said she didn’t know. Why was a secure box removed from in front of the building with cameras, a giant plate glass window and people watching it all day. She didn’t know. Nobody apparently in the election offices is even aware. I asked if there was anyone else I could speak with. No she stated. I found that odd, seeing how today is Election Day.
All right. This is rapiday going above my pay grade and I knew it.
I walked across the hallway and asked if there was a County Commissioner available to speak with. I had a nice chat with Commissioner Kevin Pine and he had no idea the box was even moved. “It’s always right in front of the county offices”. He stated. I had to walk him over to where it was now.
He was concerned as well over the security issues and was somewhat stunned as well.
I will let everyone make what they will of this. The Daily World should have someone on this immediately as well as both the County Democrat and Republican chair.
Our county elections are often decided by a few votes. What I saw today looked like a recipe for fraud. Either by accident, or design. As I stated, this is above my pay grade. From what I saw and was told by the election office itself, anyone can come and fiddle around at the opening of that box hidden inside their car all they want, put as much of whatever they want in it…..and nobody, I , mean nobody is going to know a thing.
I will say this though. There is nothing more important than ensuring the public that we have fair elections. I’m not feeling real good about it……are you? Are you?
If its this bad in broad daylight, what goes on at that box when the sun goes down.
THOUGHTS
I would normally put more time into something like this, but the clock is ticking and that box is being used as you read this. This needs eyes on it immediately. People are voting.
I’m going to Twitter/X this one and tag Jim Walsh the state Republican Chair and the Daily World. I highly suggest anyone associated with any of the campaigns regardless of the party, jump on this immediately. Immediately. Something stinks. I’m not taking it any further, this is above me. I notified the Election Office as well as the County Commissioners office in person.
I don’t want to tell what passes for official media in this county how to do their job, but if it was me I would walk a Public Records Request with a camera up to the County Offices. No, make that run. Now.
UPDATE: I keep getting asked if the Sheriff office was made aware and the Daily World. Yes, and Yes. In person with the Sheriff Deputy who stated he would inform who needed to be informed at the Sheriff Department for security, and via email to the editor at the Daily world this date.
Here is a tid bit of info for you. The last Auditor, Vern Spatz tried to move that box several years ago as he wanted more parking in front of the building. All three county commissioners united to kill that idea in the interest of security. Vicki Rains was one of them and is still there and will remember it. Something fishy is going on……..
FOLLOW UP AUGUST 7TH 2024:
I did receive an email from Joseph MacLean, the County Auditor referenced in this article at 5:30 PM last evening via email. I related the follow up questions and offered to post his response here un edited. As of this morning I am waiting for his reply and will post here immediately if it arrives. As of about noon here, I haven’t heard from anyone that I contacted, or the Daily World Editor, so I basically have nothing to report as to anyone looking at this.
Montesano Today 