County joins proposed lawsuit for state mandated ballot boxes

Whitman County commissioners voted Monday to join, as a co-plaintiff, a proposed lawsuit brought by the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) regarding a 2017 state mandate for additional ballot boxes.

Previous Whitman County Auditor Eunice Coker estimated 13 more ballot boxes would be needed here to comply. Two employees would be required to lock each of them at 8 p.m. on an election night.

Whitman County was asked by the WSAC to join Snohomish County to be co-plaintiffs, as representative counties from the east and west side of the state.

Snohomish County has yet to sign on.

“We’re not opposed to ease of election, but the state’s requiring it without funding it,” said Commissioner Michael Largent, noting the highest cost being employees’ time and mileage.

Swannack and Dean Kinzer concurred.

“I don’t mind if we have to hire the people, but the state has to pay for it,” Swannack said.