KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA | Ballot Return Rate Could Be a Record in Benton and Franklin County

Ballot Return Rate Could Be a Record in Benton and Franklin County

TRI-CITIES, Wash-- Benton and Franklin Counties are close to having every ballot counted. Both counties say they're close to having a record ballot return rate.

In Benton and Franklin County there was an 85 percent return rate, both auditors think it's a record but will not know for another week.  

So far in Benton County they have 12,000 ballots left to count, 6,000 of those will be counted by Friday evening.

In Franklin County there are 200 ballots that will go before an election board because they had issues processing them. 

One issue this year is whether or not ballots should be returned by election day, like in Oregon, instead of just postmarked. Both Franklin and Benton County auditors say it's up to the citizens.

"It's my role to advocate on behalf of the voter and the constituency and if I hear from my constituency that they would like to see that I support that, I would. If they want it to remain as it is and have it post-marked the day of election I support that," Zona Lehnart, Franklin County Auditor.

In benton county the only tight race is Fire District Six Proposition One, which would provide an ambulance service to south Benton County, near the Oregon border.
    
It needs 60 percent to pass and Friday it's at that, but there are still more ballots to count.