Video: Was ballot security compromised in Pierce County?

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UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – Just six days before the Election, KING 5 News discovered absentee ballots being left unsecured in a University Place post office.

In fact, the postal service admits the ballots were put in a position where they could be compromised and they blame it on a bad decision.

Jackie Giles was stunned when she walked through the doors at her post office to drop off her absentee ballot.

"It was clear that they were sitting right out in the open there," she said.

She was greeted with signs directing people to drop off their ballots in an unsecured cart set off to one side of the main counter. She was so concerned, she took pictures of the ballots sitting out in the open.

"In Washington State the last gubernatorial election was decided by 133 votes, so some missing ballots could really make a difference," she said.

Giles says she complained, but the clerks seemed to brush off her concerns. So she called the postal service and KING 5 News.

Once regional managers learned of the unsecured ballots, they ordered the collection bin placed behind the counter with the rest of the mail.

"Though they were collected in a container that was visible to our window clerks, it still takes them out of the main stream and is somewhat of a compromising situation," said Ernie Swanson, US Postal Service.

"If they put a bin out in the open at University Place, where else might it be happening?" wondered Giles.

No post office should have unsecured collection bins. If you see one, speak up.