Thurston County Auditor’s Office shares info ahead of Feb. 10 special election

The Thurston County Auditor’s Elections Division mailed more than 92,000 ballots to voters in the county for the Feb. 10 Special Election.

Voters in the Centralia, Olympia, Tenino and Tumwater school districts will receive ballots. 

Any registered voter who thinks they should have received a ballot, but hasn’t by Wednesday, Jan. 29 should contact the Elections Division at 360-786-5408 or elections@co.thurston.wa.us.

Ballots for military and overseas voters registered in Thurston County were mailed on Friday, Jan. 9.  

Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 10. Voters are advised to mail their ballot no later than a week before Election Day to make sure their ballots will be postmarked by Election Day. No stamp is needed to mail your ballot.  

Within a week of Election Day, voters are advised to use a ballot drop box.  Ballot drop boxes are now open 24 hours a day through 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

The Elections Division opened 17 secure ballot drop boxes. A list of ballot drop box locations and addresses is included in the mailed ballot materials and online at ThurstonWAVotes.gov. 

The Thurston County Auditor’s Elections Division is a designated voting center during business hours beginning Jan. 21.

Monday, Feb. 2 is the deadline to register or update current registration by online, mail or other remote means.

Voters can register or change address in person at the Thurston County Auditor’s Elections Division at 2915 29th Avenue Southwest in Tumwater, or any auditor’s office or voting center in the state, through Feb. 10 and still be able to vote in the special election. 

Ballots must be postmarked by election day or received in a drop box by 8 p.m. on election night.

The Thurston County Auditor’s Elections Division is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday through Feb. 9. On Feb. 10, the division will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Voters can receive accessible voting assistance by stopping by the elections division or calling ahead to make an appointment. 

Voter registration forms are available at all Thurston County Timberland Libraries, city/town halls, schools, fire stations, and licensing agencies.

Thurston County voters can register, obtain a ballot and ask for more information online at ThurstonWAVotes.gov or VoteWA.gov, by phone at 360-786-5408 or by email at Elections@co.thurston.wa.us. 

Random ballot audits will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12 and at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Ballot Processing Center. These tests are open to the public and ensure the tabulation system is counting ballots accurately and demonstrates the accuracy of the election results.

The Ballot Processing Center is located at 2905 29th Avenue Southwest in Tumwater. 

Citizens with disabilities requiring special accommodation are encouraged to contact Tillie Naputi-Pullar at 360-786-5408, or the specialized deaf and hard-of-hearing line at  711 Washington Relay.

Military and overseas voters who have not received a ballot by Wednesday, Jan. 21, should contact the elections division at 360-786-5408 or elections@co.thurston.wa.us for a replacement ballot.

For more information about the Feb. 10 special election, visit https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/auditor/elections/february-10-special-election

 There are four school district replacement levy proposals that some Thurston County voters will see on their ballots:

• Centralia School District Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy: This resolution would replace an existing levy that expires at the end of 2026. Passage of the proposition would allow the Centralia School District to levy $7,150,000, $7,640,000, and $8,157,000 in property taxes  for collection in 2027, 2028, and 2029, respectively. The estimated levy rate per $1,000 of assessed value would be $1.70 for 2027, $1.75 for 2028 and $1.80 for 2029.
• Olympia School District Technology and Capital Projects Replacement Levy: This resolution would replace an existing levy that expires at the end of 2026. Passage of the proposition would allow the Olympia School District to collect $16,703,000 in 2027, $17,676,000 in 2028, $18,707,000 in 2029, and $19,901,000 in 2030. The estimated levy rate per $1,000 of assessed value would be $0.96 through 2029, rising by one cent to $0.97 in 2030.
• Tenino School District Replacement Capital Levy to Improve Student Safety, Technology and Learning Environments: This resolution would replace an existing capital levy that expires at the end of 2026. Passage would allow the Tenino School District to collect $2,397,797 in 2027, $2,456,484 in 2028, $2,516,639 in 2029, $2,578,298 in 2030, $2,641,498 in 2031, and $2,706,278 in 2032. The estimated levy rate per $1,000 would be $1.11 all six years.
• Tumwater School District Replacement Safety, Technology, and Capital Improvements Levy: This resolution would replace an existing levy that expires at the end of 2026. Passage of the proposition would allow the Tumwater School District to collect $5,900,000 in 2027, $6,200,000 in 2028, $8,500,000 in 2029, $9,000,000 in 2030, $9,500,000 in 2031, and $10,000,000 in 2032. The estimated levy rate per $1,000 is $0.53 for 2027-28, jumping up to $0.70 in 2029 and increasing by one cent per year through 2032.