The signature on every absentee ballot must be verified before we can count the ballot. After verification we give the voter credit for voting, and then open the ballots to get them ready for counting. The Whatcom County Canvassing Board must review the procedures followed during the election, and the vote counts. The County Auditor, the chair of the County Council, and the Prosecuting Attorney comprise the Board. Once they are satisfied with the process followed, and all ballots have been counted, the board certifies the election results.
State law requires the recount of ballots in close contests.
A bipartisan team of election board workers is assigned to each poll. Voters are issued a ballot only after signing the poll book. Their signature certifies they are eligible to vote in the election. Voters put their voted ballot into a sealed ballot box. The box is under observation by the election board workers at all times during election day.