Story perspectives

Auditors Offer Replacement Ballots, Safe Drop Boxes Amid Wildfires

8/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton announced replacement ballots for Tuesday’s primary despite wildfires.
Voters can collect a packet or print one online at votewa.gov until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Twenty-six drop boxes outside evacuation zones and the post office will accept ballots.
Stevens County Auditor Lori Larsen reported no drop boxes were damaged and warned voters not to enter evacuation zones.

History

Historical Context

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, forcing the state to postpone elections and relocate thousands of voters and millions of residents. The Federal Emergency Management Agency allocated $1.2 billion for emergency shelters, while the Louisiana Secretary of State listed 2,000 displaced voters. Similarly, Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton now distributes replacement ballots and maintains 26 drop boxes to serve voters displaced by wildfires. These measures illustrate how disaster-response voting protocols, first tested after Katrina, shape resilient electoral infrastructure nationwide and set a precedent for future emergency voting legislation.

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Story summary

Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton announced replacement ballots for Tuesday’s primary despite wildfires.
Voters can collect a packet or print one online at votewa.gov until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Twenty-six drop boxes outside evacuation zones and the post office will accept ballots.
Stevens County Auditor Lori Larsen reported no drop boxes were damaged and warned voters not to enter evacuation zones.

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