Keeping voter rolls accurate is a year-round task, and the Thurston County Auditor’s Elections Division proved that with a major cleanup in 2025. More than 78,000 voter records were updated out of the county’s 200,000-plus registered voters, ensuring smoother, more secure elections for everyone.
Thurston County Updates 78,000+ Voter Records in 2025
In a news release shared on Monday, the Auditor’s Office detailed the efforts of its Elections Division in maintaining up-to-date and accurate voter information. According to Auditor Mary Hall, the team actively manages the voter rolls throughout the year with help from voters and several trusted government sources.
Key Changes to Voter Registrations
Here’s a breakdown of the most common updates made in 2025:
- 1,424 voter registrations were canceled at the voter’s request
- 2,343 registrations were removed due to death
- 6,285 records were moved to inactive status after mail was returned as undeliverable
Voters listed as inactive will not receive a ballot unless they contact the Auditor’s Office to update their address.
Trusted Sources Help Keep Records Accurate
The Elections Division collaborates with various state and federal agencies to verify and update voter information. Some of the key partners include:
- Washington Office of the Secretary of State
- Social Security Administration
- United States Postal Service (NCOA program)
- State departments such as Licensing, Health, Corrections, and Courts
The office also uses notices from families, published obituaries, and health department data to remove registrations for deceased individuals.
Cross-State Matching with ERIC
Washington is part of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a multi-state partnership using data-matching software to ensure voters are not registered in multiple states. In 2025 alone, ERIC data helped the Thurston County Auditor’s Office update 2,148 additional voter records.
Community Cooperation Is Key
Auditor Mary Hall highlighted the importance of help from voters. “We really appreciate the help voters provide by proactively updating their records or notifying us when someone in their household has passed away,” she said.
If you receive a ballot for someone who has moved or passed away, you can:
- Contact the Thurston County Auditor’s Office directly
- Write “Deceased” or “Not at this address” on the ballot envelope and return it by mail
Why It Matters
Keeping voter records current prevents election errors like ballots going to the wrong address or to people who are no longer eligible. It also supports election integrity by reducing the chances of duplicate or incorrect voting records.
For voters, this means fewer delays, more trust in the system, and a better experience at election time.
