Spokane County auditor declines National Guard election offer

Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton plans to rely on local resources for election security, declining Gov. Bob Ferguson’s proposal for Washington National Guard support. Ferguson offered assistance to all 39 county auditors, envisioning Guard members quietly observing ballot drop boxes and busy voting sites without uniforms or public interaction.

Ferguson pointed to several recent events while explaining the precaution: fires at ballot boxes in Vancouver and Portland before the 2024 election, and unidentified white powder mailed to the Washington Secretary of State’s office and members of Washington’s congressional delegation. Dalton said Friday that Spokane County had received no significant security reports with roughly a week and a half remaining before the general election, though security preparations were underway.

Dalton has also established a direct line of communication with the United States Postal Service. She said the agency had promised a focused effort to return ballots on time and that election operations otherwise were proceeding as expected.

Thurston County took a different approach Thursday, accepting the governor’s offer. There, Guard members will be unarmed, wear civilian clothing and work under the county auditor alongside local law enforcement. They will provide security support without performing police duties or participating in ballot handling or processing.