(Port Orchard, WA) – Kitsap County Elections led a group of 16 Washington counties that was recently awarded $743,580 in federal funding.
The grant enables participating counties to implement and maintain an electronic ballot delivery system for military and overseas voters. The ballot delivery system will be similar to Kitsap's acclaimed Online Ballot Access.
Online Ballot Access – developed by Democracy Live – allows voters to receive their specific ballots by email, eliminating the need to mail ballots to voters living and working outside of Washington state. During the 2012 Presidential Election, Online Ballot Access was used by Kitsap voters in more than 50 countries.
"This is a significant improvement because it greatly reduces the amount of time needed to deliver ballots to Washington voters residing in distant locations," said Kitsap County Elections Manager Dolores Gilmore.
The Kitsap County Auditor's Office submitted the grant application on behalf of participating counties and is responsible for dispersing funds and submitting required reports during the five year program. The other counties in the consortium are: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Cowiltz, Douglas, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Kittitas, Mason, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Snohomish, Thurston and Walla Walla.
To learn more about the Federal Grant visit http://www.fvap.gov/global/news/2013news/nr19-2013.html.
Our right to vote is critical. Military overseas votes are also critical. Don't disenfranchise any legal vote. Prevent voter fraud at all costs but make the military vote seamless.