King County is backing legal challenges to federal ballot mailing requirements and demands for sensitive voter records, Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, outlining efforts to protect voting access and local control of elections.

The cases involve how ballots reach voters, the disclosure of personal voter information and the authority of state and local officials to administer elections. The county’s announcement comes as voters across South King County and the rest of the county prepare for Election Day.

“On the eve of election day, I want to reassure our King County communities that we are closely monitoring any attacks on our election process, and we are prepared to respond with litigation where necessary and appropriate,” said Manion, who also serves as the county’s chief legal adviser.

Among the cases is United States Postal Service v. California, which concerns new federal requirements for mailing ballots. King County, through its Department of Elections, signed on in support of the challenge Sept. 9, according to the county.

On Sept. 14, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Trump administration’s request to pause a preliminary injunction blocking those requirements. That left the rules blocked for the Nov. 3 election, the county said. The action kept the injunction in place while the litigation continued.

The proposed requirements included redesigning ballot envelopes and submitting them to the Postal Service for approval. Election officials also would have had to enter voter information into a new federal portal and wait at local post offices while postal employees scanned and verified ballot envelopes, according to the county.

County officials argued those changes threatened to disrupt election preparations already underway, with no guarantee that redesigned envelopes would be approved in time for the November election.

King County also joined friend of the court briefs opposing Justice Department demands for complete, unredacted statewide voter registration records in cases involving election officials in New York, Maryland and Minnesota.

According to the county, the briefs describe safeguards for maintaining voter lists and argue for meaningful court review of federal demands for sensitive voter information. They also address the workload and potential consequences those demands could create for local election officials.

The election cases are part of a broader legal effort by Manion’s office to challenge federal actions affecting King County. Earlier this year, the office reported supporting 16 lawsuits that it said were aimed at protecting the county from unlawful federal actions.

In a separate funding dispute, the county said an Aug. 26 ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed it to receive, or expect to receive, $364 million in federal funding.

That case, King County v. Turner, involved King County and more than 70 other local governments. According to the county, the ruling barred the Trump administration from conditioning federal grants on local governments adopting policies targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people and abortion access.

Ballot Boxes Open Until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3

Here are nearby ballot boxes:

  • Tukwila Justice Center, 15005 Tukwila International Blvd., Tukwila, 98188
  • Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Ave S., Tukwila, 98168

    Others nearby include:

    • Boulevard Park Library, 12015 Roseberg Avenue South Seattle, WA 98168
    • Burien Town Square Park (corner of 5th Ave SW and SW 152nd Street), 480 SW 152nd Street, Burien, WA 98166
    • Safeway 1st Ave South, 12725 1st Ave South, Burien, 98168
    • Normandy Park Towne Center Ballot Drop Box at Normandy Park Towne Center, 19901 1st Ave S Normandy Park, 98148
    • Des Moines Municipal Court Ballot Drop Box, Des Moines Municipal Court, 21630 11th Ave S., Des Moines, 98198
    • Angle Lake Transit Station Ballot Drop Box, Angle Lake Transit Station, 19955 28th Ave S., SeaTac, 98188
    • Highline College Ballot Drop Box, Highline College (entrance across from 27th Ave S.), 2400 S. 240th Street, Des Moines, 98198
    • Valley View Library Ballot Drop Box, Valley View Library, 17850 Military Roadd South, SeaTac, 98188
      Steve Cox Memorial Park (formerly at White Center Library), 1321 SW 102nd Street, White Center, 98146