If you have ever wondered what happens after the polls close and the ballots are counted, Whatcom County is offering a rare chance to see it for yourself. The official certification of the August 4, 2026 Primary and Special Election takes place Tuesday, August 18, at 10:00 a.m. in Suite B03 at 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham, and the public is welcome to attend.
What Certification Means
Election certification is the formal, legal step that makes primary results official. After ballots are tallied, the canvassing board reviews the count, examines any challenged or provisional ballots, and signs off on the final totals. Until certification occurs, the results are considered unofficial. Once certified, the outcome determines which candidates advance to the November general election.
For this particular primary, certification carries unusual significance. The 42nd Legislative District state Senate race has been separated by just four votes between candidates Michael Shepard and Eamonn Collins, triggering a hand recount that will follow certification. The Whatcom County Auditor's Office has noted that the hand recount is expected to take approximately three days after the certification is finalized and results are posted.
How to Observe the Process
Whatcom County has a structured process for members of the public who want to observe ballot processing and certification. Observers can watch the canvassing board work, see how challenged ballots are reviewed, and witness the official signing of the election results. The county's observer program is designed to provide transparency and public confidence in the election process.
The event is at 311 Grand Avenue, Suite B03, in downtown Bellingham, the same building that houses much of Whatcom County's administrative operations. The session begins at 10:00 a.m. For those interested in observing but unable to attend in person, the county has published a set of observer resources online at whatcomcounty.us/3747/Observer-Resources that explain the process and provide additional context.
The Broader Election Context
The August 4 primary included races across multiple offices in Whatcom County, with the 42nd District Senate contest drawing the most attention due to its razor-thin margin. Shepard, a Bellingham Port Commissioner and Western Washington University anthropology instructor, led Collins, a science teacher at the Lummi Nation School and former U.S. Senate policy adviser, by just four votes after the canvassing board reviewed challenged ballots Monday.
That margin, fewer than 0.25 percent of roughly 50,000 votes cast, is well within the threshold that triggers an automatic hand recount under Washington State law. The recount is expected to begin after today's certification and take several days. Results will then be certified by the Secretary of State's office by Friday. Ultimately, the top two vote-getters in the race will face off in November against Republican Erika Creydt, a Blaine school board member and psychologist who led the primary with 44.6 percent of the vote.
The district covers north Bellingham and rural Whatcom County including Ferndale, Lynden, and Blaine and has become more reliably Democratic in recent cycles after years as a competitive seat. The seat was held by Republican state senator before the district shifted.
Questions and Contact Information
Anyone with questions about today's certification or the ongoing recount process can reach the Whatcom County Auditor's Office by phone at 360-778-5102 or by email at elections@co.whatcom.wa.us. Additional information about the current election cycle is available at whatcomcounty.us/CurrentElection.
For a broader look at the Senate race recount and what is at stake in the 42nd District this fall, you can find more context in an earlier piece covering the primary results and the race's background.
