WA GOP Leader Claims Box of Uncounted Ballots Found Near Renton Dumpster

King County officials dispute claims of election security breach

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:06am

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A moody, cinematic painting depicting a lone ballot box or mailbox in a shadowy urban alleyway, the warm sunlight casting dramatic shadows and highlighting the solitary nature of the scene, conveying a sense of unease and uncertainty about the integrity of the electoral process.A mysterious discovery of uncounted ballots raises troubling questions about the security of Washington's elections.Renton Today

The chairman of the Washington State Republican Party, Jim Walsh, claims a 'concerned citizen' found a box of roughly 400 uncounted ballots from past elections near a Renton dumpster and brought them to the state GOP headquarters. However, King County election officials and the Secretary of State say they have no record of anyone reporting the discovery, and they dispute Walsh's claims about election security.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about the integrity of Washington's elections and the handling of mail-in ballots, which have become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over voting rights and election security. The claims made by the GOP leader could further erode public trust in the electoral process if not properly investigated and addressed by authorities.

The details

According to Walsh, the box of ballots contained primary and general election ballots from 2022 to 2025, most of which were unopened and unvoted. He claims a 'concerned citizen' found the box near a Renton strip mall dumpster in mid-February and tried unsuccessfully to contact King County Elections and the Secretary of State's office. Walsh said he learned of the ballots last week and arranged to have them brought to the state GOP headquarters on Thursday.

  • The box of ballots was allegedly found near a Renton dumpster in mid-February 2026.
  • The 'concerned citizen' who found the ballots tried to contact King County Elections and the Secretary of State's office several days later.
  • Jim Walsh learned of the ballots last week and had them brought to the state GOP headquarters on Thursday, April 17, 2026.

The players

Jim Walsh

The chairman of the Washington State Republican Party, who is in possession of the box of uncounted ballots.

Halei Watkins

The communications manager for King County Elections, who says the county has no record of anyone reporting the discovery of the ballots.

Steve Hobbs

The Washington Secretary of State, who says posting a video on social media is not the proper way to report the discovery of undelivered mail.

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What they’re saying

“This is proof that Washington state elections are not secure. This is the reason we need to do better by election integrity and election security in Washington state.”

— Jim Walsh, Chairman, Washington State Republican Party

“Despite the claims made in the video, we have no record of anyone contacting our office to report finding a box of undelivered ballots. If this person had spoken to anyone on our team, we would have absolutely asked them to bring the box to us so we could investigate.”

— Halei Watkins, Communications Manager, King County Elections

“If a person finds undelivered mail that has been improperly disposed of, there are several steps they should take to ensure it is fully investigated. Posting a video on social media is not one of them.”

— Steve Hobbs, Washington Secretary of State

What’s next

The United States Postal Inspection Service and the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office are investigating the discovery of the ballots. If postal inspectors don't take possession of the ballots, they will be turned over to King County Elections.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing debate over election security and the handling of mail-in ballots in Washington state. While the claims made by the GOP leader raise concerns, election officials stress that there are safeguards in place to ensure the integrity of the voting process. Proper investigation and transparent communication will be crucial to maintaining public trust in the state's elections.