Peninsula voters flock to drop-boxes, many voting earlier than ever

Judging by the steady stream of voters at Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula drop-box locations, it appears residents have no trouble with voting by mail in the presidential election, and many are voting early.

“If you have an established track record like Washington state, voting by mail is great,” Gig Harbor resident Fran Drelling said as she dropped off her ballot at a fire station last week.

Mike Dunn, 72, a retired attorney, agreed.

“I’ve been doing mail-in ballots since they’ve started,” he said. “It’s wonderful, the best voting system in the country.”

These voters have turned their ballots in early, and they are not alone. According to multiple news outlets, more than 45 million ballots have already been cast for the 2020 presidential election.

More vote early

Pierce County voters have returned more than 180,447 ballots as of Friday, Oct, 23, according to the Auditor’s Office. That’s almost a third of the ballots sent out, and more than double the number of ballots returned on the same day in the 2016 election, when 77,429 ballots were returned.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that mail-in voting will lead to “massive fraud,” and Republicans in some states have sued to limit drop-fox voting. A judge in Texas recently approved a rule limiting drop-boxes to one per county. But Washington has had all mail-in voting since 2011, and Pierce County alone has 46 drop-box locations.

According to the Pierce County elections staff, drop boxes can hold up to 5,000 ballots and are emptied every 48 hours, sometimes oftener at high-traffic locations. Two employees collect the ballots, which are transported directly to the election center in sealed containers. Collection teams are supervised by managers using GPS tracking and photographic evidence.

Drop-box drama

Some people driving up to the dropbox at Gig Harbor Fire & Medic Ones Station on Kimball Drive slipped their ballots in without much fanfare, but at least one engaged in some lighthearted theater.

Frances Bailey brought her shiny, red shoes. Clicking her heels three times, Bailey repeated “I want a real president. I want a real president. I want a real president,” before inserting her ballot into the drop box.

Dunn, a friend of Bailey, echoed her view of the President.

“Trump is totally unqualified, he’s a buffoon,” Dunn said. “I think the reason for all this early voting is enthusiasm. I interpret that a blue wave is coming.”

Another voter, Debbie Harrer, said she will be closely following the gubernatorial election. As a small business owner of two kick-boxing gyms, Harrer has not been satisfied with the way Governor Jay Inslee has handled the COVID situation.

“The main issue for me is the governor’s race,” Harrer said. “For me as a small business owner I think Inslee has let us down during COVID.”

One woman, who chose to remain anonymous, echoed the other voter’s secure feeling for mail in ballots.

“It’s perfect, secure, and feel comfortable with my ballot which is greatly important to me,” the woman said.

She added that every one of her uncles died in the military.

“My family has paid the cost for what we can do, which is vote, be recognized, and be cared about,” the woman said. “I think our country needs to come together and not be so divided.”

Passionate people

Jim Oreto, 50, said this was his first time voting by mail.

“I just did this for the first time by mail to not wait in long lines,” Oreto said. “This election will be a crazy one, no matter who wins people will be upset. People are passionate.”

Oreto added that he believes there is much more interest in the election this year compared to previous years.

Gig Harbor resident Maxine Pomeroy, 87, said she’s followed this election more closely than others.

“I absolutely have followed this election more, especially with the current events happening,” Pomeroy said.

Ballots were mailed to 560,000 registered Pierce County voters on Oct. 16.

The Pierce County Auditor’s Office is estimating an 85 percent voter turnout for the Nov. 3 election, which is much higher than usual. Pierce County’s voter turnout in the last presidential election in 2016 was about 75 percent, and it was nearly 79 percent in the 2012 general election.

Pierce County voters aren’t the only ones voting early this year.

Around 25 percent of Washington voters — 1.2 million people — have returned their ballots as of last week, according to the Seattle Times, compared to the 10 percent of voters at the same point in 2016.

Ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day or placed in a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Nov 3.

Local drop boxes

Drop boxes for mail in ballots can be found at:

▪ Fox Island Fire Station 53, 906 Kamus Dr, Fox Island 98333

▪ Gig Harbor Fire Station , 6711 Kimball Dr. Gig Harbor 98335

▪ Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Dr NW, Gig Harbor 98335

▪ Home Park, 17220 8th Ave NW, Lakebay 98349

▪ Key Center Food Market, 9021 Key Peninsula Hwy NW, Lakebay 98349

▪ Lake Kathryn Food Market, 14220 92nd Ave NW, Gig Harbor 98329

▪ Purdy Fire Station, 5210 144th St NW, Gig Harbor 98332

Allison Needles of The News Tribune contributed to this story.

This story was originally published October 28, 2020 at 5:30 AM.