MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District Board Director Rich Archer presented a list of suggested changes to the district's Dec. 13 election.

They were made to "help create the appearance of fairness in the upcoming election," according to the information Archer presented during a recent district board meeting.

Archer said he thinks his ideas would be efficient, making him and public more comfortable with the election. The election is handled by the district because of how the state law is written, not by the Grant County Elections Department.

A Nov. 1 meeting was set to discuss election law. The meeting begins at 7 p.m., at 932 E. Wheeler Rd., Moses Lake.

Archer's suggestions are:

1. Have a lock box with two padlocks, with a mail drop on the top of the box, to be used for drop-ins during the day. This box will cost around $500. Mick (Hansen) said he will donate one to the district.
2. After mail-in ballots are sent out, two people will pick up the mail from the post office, bring it back to the lock box, open it with both keys and cover the ballots with the plywood sheet, inside the box.
3. A master sheet of all mail-in ballots will be kept at the office. All mail-ins and all walk-ins will be checked off daily; walk-ins will sign off on the master sheet.
4. A 24-hour video of drop-ins, with motion sensor
5. The directors will be in charge of counting absentee ballots.
6. Make sure all absentee ballots are numbered.
7. No money will be spent on paid advertisements by the district during the campaign period without board approval.

Ron Covey, the district's board president, said if Mick Hansen decided to run again, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to make a ballot box.

Covey said there were several things they might be able to incorporate and a couple of things that need to be stricken, such as the items not in compliance with state law.

Covey said Archer's suggestions implied there were people in the district's office that weren't trustworthy.

"I don't think there's anything that has ever been done where it would give anyone the impression where that's the case," Covey said.

Archer said as directors, they have to make sure it doesn't happen.

State law outlines the person in charge of the ballots, who unlocks the ballot box and the ballot counter, Covey explained.

Hansen said he is donating the box and if they didn't like the looks of it, they could change it.

Hansen asked the board to vote on each suggestion.

Covey said no, as discussions need to occur with the district's attorney to ensure changes comply with state law.

Not doing so opens the district up to a lawsuit, he explained.