Where to drop off election ballots in Tri-Cities and how to see if it counted

If you have not voted yet in the Tuesday election, you should take your ballot to a drop box in Benton or Franklin counties.

Ballots must be postmarked, not just mailed, by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2. And because U.S. mail in the Tri-Cities must go to Spokane to be postmarked, it can take a few days and won’t count if mailed too late.

In Benton County, 19% of ballots issued, or 23,249 ballots, had been returned as of Monday morning. Of those, 309 had been challenged, according to Washington state.

In Franklin County, 13% of ballots issued, or 5,642, had been returned as of Monday morning. Of those, 107 were challenged.

To see if your ballot has been received and is in good standing, enter your name at voter.votewa.gov and then click on “Ballot Status” on the left hand rail.

Voters can contact election workers in the county auditor offices to verify their signatures and make their vote count.

Register to vote

It’s not too late to register for this election.

The Benton County Courthouse in Prosser and the Benton County election center in the old Chuck E. Cheese building at 2610 N. Columbia Center Boulevard, Richland, will register people to vote and issue replacement ballots.

The election center will be open 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday and 8:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

The Franklin County Courthouse will be open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. election day.

Franklin County residents also can register at the county’s election center, 116 N. Third Ave., which is open the same hours. Replacement ballots are available only at the courthouse.

Washington State University Tri-Cities will have a voting center open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Room 120 of the Consolidated Information Center, 2770 University Drive, Richland

There residents of Benton and Franklin counties can check their voter registration, register to vote, print a ballot and receive an election information booklet and then drop their ballot at the on-campus box in the parking lot of the Consolidated Information Center.

Ballot drop boxes

• Drive-up ballot drop boxes are available for Benton County voters in Kennewick at the county’s Kennewick Annex, 5600 W. Canal Drive, and Kennewick City Hall, 210 W. Sixth Ave.
• Drive-up boxes in Richland are at Jefferson Park off of Symons Street, Badger Mountain Community Park on Keene Road, WSU Tri-Cities and at the voting center at 2610 N. Columbia Center Blvd.
• Drive-up boxes in West Richland are at the library at 3803 W. Van Giesen St. and at the city shops at 3100 Belmont Blvd.
• Benton County ballots also can be dropped off at 620 Market St. in Prosser and at Benton City Hall at 1009 Dale Ave.
• In Pasco drive-up or drive-through boxes for Franklin County voters are at the HAPO Center, 6600 Burden Blvd.; the Franklin County Courthouse parking lot; Fire Protection District 3 at 2108 Road 84 and at the Franklin County election center at 116 N. 3rd Ave.
• In Connell, go to the Connell PUD shop at 619 W. Clark St.

More information is posted for voters in Benton County at bentonauditor.com/Current-Election and for voters in Franklin County at co.franklin.wa.us/auditor/elections/currentelection.php.

Contact the Benton County Auditor’s Office at 509-736-3085 or the Franklin County Auditor’s Office at 509-545-3538 with any questions.