{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"KMAS Radio","title":"Mason County Elections Update: Ballot Deadlines, USPS Changes, and the Verified Voter Pilot Project","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1554,"description":"Mason County Auditor Steve Duenkel and Deputy Auditor Marie Stevenson join KMAS to walk through several important election updates ahead of the February 10 special election and the April special election.The conversation begins with a critical change in U.S. Postal Service postmarking policy that could affect whether ballots are counted if they are mailed too close to Election Day. Election officials explain why voters are now encouraged to mail ballots at least seven days early, use official ballot drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Election Day, or request a hand-stamped postmark at the post office.The discussion also covers ballot drop box locations, ballot tracking through VoteWA, observation opportunities at the Elections Office, and what happens to ballots on election night.In the second half of the interview, Dunkel and Stevenson explain the Verified Voter Pilot Project, a voluntary option being introduced for the April special election. The pilot allows participating voters to authenticate their ballot using objective information such as date of birth and a state-issued ID number, rather than relying solely on signature verification. The goal is to reduce rejected ballots, improve equity, and gather data that may help inform future statewide election policy.This full conversation provides transparency into how elections are administered in Mason County, what voters need to know to make sure their ballots are counted, and how local election officials are testing new ideas to improve voter confidence and access.#MasonCounty#Elections#VoteEarly#BallotDeadline#MailInVoting#ElectionSecurity#VerifiedVoter","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/-pvXmrIN7fSEOn3OYExkFef07zAaPOY9965kM2jEd7A/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzMyMTQ5LzE2ODQz/MjgyODItYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}