Hundreds show up at Tri-Cities election centers to vote at the last minute
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Tri-Cities 2024 Presidential Election Night Results
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Hundreds of Tri-Citians showed up at Benton and Franklin county election offices Tuesday to vote in person.
Some day-of voters said they were being lazy or put it off to the last minute and didn’t have time to mail their ballot.
Others were first-time voters who wanted election officials on hand if they had questions about how to vote.
That’s why they were willing to stand in long lines, straight out the door and into the parking lot at times.
Thousands of the 176,000 registered voters across the greater Tri-Cities area had already turned in their ballots by mail or drop box for the 2024 General Election.
But voters were still swarming to ballot drop boxes and election centers up until 8 p.m. Election Day.
What has the experience been like for Election Day voters?
Voting on Election Day in Tri-Cities
There are 18 ballot drop-off locations between Benton and Franklin counties, including three with in-person voting options.
Both the Benton and Franklin county voting centers were seeing steady numbers Tuesday, and were expecting increased demand after hours.
People are using the voting centers for various reasons, including first-time voter registration, getting replacements for lost ballots and voting in-person.
Eric Huesca and Stephanie Romero from Kennewick brought their young daughter to the Benton County Elections Office on Tuesday afternoon. Huesca told the Tri-City Herald that he prefers voting in-person. He and Romero decided to vote on the same day together.
Many of the attendees are first-time, young voters, according to staff in Franklin County. Others brought their families or partners with them. Staff answered many questions throughout the day.
Complications among Tri-Cities voters
Several people in line told the Tri-City Herald how difficult it had been to find the information they needed. Some people were using the voting centers simply because voting in-person seemed like the safest bet on a confusing task.
Both counties are equipped for voters in neighboring counties.
A Pasco resident waited in line at the Benton County Elections Office and was told that she could receive a ballot for Franklin County and vote.
Voting officials at the Franklin County Auditor’s Office said that the office also had Benton County ballots available for residents from other counties. One official told the Tri-City Herald that there was a voter registered in Whitman County who came to the auditor’s office.
Last-minute voters in Tri-Cities shouldn’t feel alone, as there are many across local drop-off locations.
Ballot boxes will be closed at 8 p.m. and ballot counting will begin.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 5:16 PM.
