This Chuck E. Cheese restaurant is now a Benton County voting center

A restaurant where thousands of Tri-Cities kids once celebrated birthdays is now a spot where Benton County voters can take their election questions.

The Benton County Auditor’s Office opened a temporary voting center this week at the former Chuck E. Cheese on North Columbia Center Boulevard.

“We were fortunate to receive a grant through the CARES Act to mitigate against COVID,” said Benton County Auditor Brenda Chilton.

The office received just more than $250,000 to open the 14,000-square-feet voting center in the Rivers Edge Plaza at 2610 N. Columbia Center Blvd. in Richland. They also are renting a space in the FruitSmart warehouse in Prosser for ballot processing.

Chilton said they needed the space because the Kennewick Annex and the ballot processing space in the Prosser courthouse are tight quarters.

The annex on Canal Drive is about 1,500 square feet — about nine times smaller than the temporary voting center.

“Knowing we are in a presidential election year and knowing the number of temp staff we will hire — it won’t work,” she said.

The money specifically was given to mitigate the coronavirus — giving them room to spread out employees and voters — and is not being used for other expenses.

In addition to renting temporary space, Chilton said her office used some of the grant to buy enough personal protective equipment for staff, as well as people who arrive without a mask.

Vote Ready campaign

They also are launching a communications campaign #VoteReady2020 to encourage citizens to register and cast their vote early for the Aug. 4 primary election.

Washington law allows voters to register in person and vote at a county election office before 8 p.m. on Election Day. Registered voters get their ballots in the mail with a return envelope that requires no stamp.

Online and mailed-in forms to register to vote must be received by July 27.

For the Nov. 3 general election, online and mail-in registrations are due by Oct. 26.

For those not already registered in Washington, in-person registration is accepted up until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

The new voting center has accessible voting units available for those with disabilities who are unable to complete their ballots at home.

The Richland center, which has been rented through November, has been set up to ensure social distancing inside and outside the building.

“It was important we offer a space where people can come safely,” Chilton said. “It is an opportunity to make adjustments during a less busier election. We will be ramped up and prepared for the November election.”

Safety measures

• A parking lot attendant will stop drivers as they enter the parking lot to make sure they are there for a voting question or if they need to go to a different county office — for example, to pay property taxes.
• An outside waiting area at the door will have an attendant who can monitor occupancy, check individuals into the building, as well as ensure social distancing in line.

• People who don’t feel comfortable coming inside because of the risk of exposure to COVID-19 can be helped at a mobile cart outside, where they can register to vote and receive a ballot.

• A ballot drop box was installed outside in addition to nine other drop boxes around the area. And ballots can be dropped into any mailbox because the postage is prepaid.
• Accessible voting units are available for those who have disabilities or mobility issues. They are in a separate area of the building to ensure safety.
• State COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. Patrons must wear masks and masks are available for those who arrive without one.