TUMWATER – The Thurston County Auditor’s Office officially opened a new, modern Ballot Processing Center (BPC). This state-of-the-art facility will ensure safe, secure, and transparent elections for the community. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the end of years of planning and work. This effort created a permanent home for Thurston County Elections. 

The expanded BPC is in the Mottman Industrial Park in Tumwater. It is double the size of the previous facility. The expansion and improvements were funded in by the Public Safety Sales Tax, and grants. The larger space can accommodate the county’s growing number of registered voters, now over 213,000. It also improves both election security and public transparency.  

"This new Ballot Processing Center is a significant step forward for democracy in Thurston County," said Auditor Mary Hall. "Our goal has always been to protect every ballot, provide a safe space for our election workers and ensure a transparent environment. We also want the public to see firsthand how we conduct elections. This facility achieves all of that. It also gives us the space and technology to handle future growth." 

The new facility includes an observation corridor. This allows the public to view and learn about ballot processing without interrupting operations. Strategic security improvements ensure a secure environment for staff and the public. The county heavily invested in making this location the permanent home for elections for years to come.  

Last year, the Auditor opened its permanent Voter Services office in the same business park. For the first time in decades, all election facilities will now operate in one location. This offers convenience for voters and improves how efficiently the office works. “This facility has been needed for years and was thoughtfully planned to enhance voter access and election integrity,” Hall said. "Today, we celebrate more than just a building. We celebrate a stronger, safer, and more transparent elections process for everyone in Thurston County."