King County expected to have another record-breaking day for early ballot voting

King County Elections officials think Tuesday will be another record-breaking day for early ballot returns.

Our news cameras watched a steady stream of voters dropping their ballots off at the county’s drop boxes all day – around dinner time and after work – there was sometimes a three traffic light wait to get to the drop box at King County Elections Headquarters in Renton, where we found dozens of voters hustling in and out to cast their ballot.

“I feel awesome,” said Benjamin after voting.

He's not alone.

King County voters are breaking records - 300,000 ballots cast in just five days, according to King County Elections Director Julie Wise.

“To have already close to 300,000 here within the first weekend alone is unprecedented," Wise said. "It blows records out of the park by hundreds of thousands."

“Oh overwhelmed I'm excited for the first time to vote, I didn't worry about politics until this year, said a masked voter from the driver’s seat of her car as she dropped her ballot into the drop box.

“I hate to say but I’ve lost a little faith in the system this year,” said Leonard Hodges, who voted Tuesday too.

That's in part why King County Elections Headquarters opened its doors in Renton to the public Tuesday, including concerned citizen who came to watch the process for themselves.

Also observing was a representative from the Secretary of State’s Office and people representing political parties.

- it's test day scanners and tabulation systems are tested with observers watching on - all systems are go on the ballot counting and processing equipment.

"We are prepared and ready to go to start processing ballots for this election," Wise said.

With overwhelming interest and voter tension - high- just like in the 2016 presidential election, king co will have plainclothes security officers at all 73 ballot drop boxes on election night.

‘I think it's a good idea, i think there are some extremists out there, self-proclaimed militias promising to upset things and it doesn't work well for me,” said Hodges.

“It can potentially intimate people, but if they're subtle about it, that's fine,” said another voter, who came with his wife to cast their ballots.

“We don't have any concerns at this point but we are very flexible and able to adjust and pivot as we need to,” Wise said.

The state can pivot and adjust too. We checked in with Washington’s national guard to see if its members are planning for possible unrest on or after election day.

“There have been no requests for resources, but discussions and planning is happening because it is always a prudent thing to do,” said Communications Director for Washington, Karina Shagren.

Wise said their local security is there only to de-escalate if needed. KIng County is expecting upwards of half a million voters to hit a drop boxes on election day.

“It could very well be we will have a clear picture of even close races come election night,” said Wise.

When asked Tuesday about possible unrest, Governor Inslee said he hopes for a wide vote margin so there’s no reason for problems, but the state will have measures ready just in case.