Just as Washington’s largest county elections department was settling in to a state-of-the-art headquarters building, they’ve had to move, at least temporarily, to avoid possible flood waters from the Howard Hanson Dam.

The department, which tends to the needs of over 1.1 million registered voters, has just opened its new temporary home on the grounds of Boeing Field, on East Marginal Way not far from the Museum of Flight. Elections Director Sherril Huff says the move from Renton to Tukwila has gone very well, and that the county-owned facility will accommodate the agency just fine.  The operation, which includes 61 full-time employees plus seasonal crews, will remain at the new location until the Renton headquarters is deemed safe from future Green River flooding or an alternative long-term location is found, Huff says.

The old phone numbers and email addresses still work.

“We’re getting settled in and will be completely ready for the November General Election,” Huff says.

King County, like nearly all of the state, will be voting by mail. Ballots must go out by Oct. 16 and must be returned with a postmark of no later than Nov. 3.