Secretary of State Wants Names and Addresses

SEATTLE (AP) — The secretary of state's office wants Republicans and Democrats to provide the names and addresses of any voters whose ballots have been collected by the parties or their affiliates.

State elections co-director Katie Blinn sent a letter Tuesday to the state party chairmen, their counterparts in the Democratic and Republican parties in King County, as well as the campaign managers for gubernatorial candidates Rob McKenna and Jay Inslee. Voters in King County had previously been warned by election officials not to give their ballots to groups offering to collect them, but to instead mail ballots themselves or drop them off at official locations.

It's not illegal for parties to pick up voters' ballots, but Blinn said there are concerns about the potential for intimidation and tampering.