More than 17,000 voters will be affected by polling place changes, elections officials say. Since 2004, 141 poll sites have been consolidated or closed either because the location was not accessible to people with disabilities or the site was under utilized. Since the presidential primary held in February 2008, 20 sites were moved or in some cases demolished or impacted by construction, affecting 17,221 poll voters.

Voters affected by the change will receive a new registration card in the mail with the name of their new assigned poll site. If you are a voter affected by recent polling place changes, you may be voting in a different location than you have in the past.

Before Tuesday, August 19, King County is urging voters to confirm the location of their assigned polling place either by calling the voter hotline at 206-296-VOTE or by visiting www.kingcounty.gov/elections and entering in your name and date of birth or address in “Your Voter Guide” section. This online tool is custom designed for each voter with the location and map to their assigned poll site, sample ballot and official candidate statements.

“ … We want to make sure poll voters know where to vote on Aug. 19,” said Sherril Huff, Elections director.

In addition to receiving a letter and a new voter notification card with information about their new assigned polling place, voters affected by the most recent polling place closures and consolidations will also receive a phone call prior to Election Day reminding them of the closure. These phone calls will begin tomorrow.

For a list of recently affected poll sites and precincts, visit www.your.kingcounty.gov/elections/200808/PollingPlaceChanges_Aug08.pdf.

For more information on absentee and poll voting in King County Elections or information on the ballot measures and candidates on the August 19 ballot, visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections/.