On Election Day, a long line of cars full of people waiting to slip their ballots into the library’s white ballot box stretched from the South Hill Library through the parking lot, onto the street and blocking the library entrance.

In preparation for Election Day, state and county election officials warned people not drop ballots in the mail in the last several days before the election in fear that new Post Office policy could mean that ballots wouldn’t be postmarked in time.

Instead, officials encouraged voters to use official ballot drop boxes at public libraries and other government buildings.

Considering ballots received as of Thursday, 39.5% of Spokane County voter’s returned their ballots. That’s higher than the most recent similar election year in 2021 (with no or few races for

See Full Page