I encourage others to consider using this form when a public comment raises an issue that needs follow-up action. Public comment is important because it puts concerns on the public record. However, when an issue requires review, response, or accountability from County staff or officials, filing a formal complaint or request creates a clearer paper trail and helps move the concern from public testimony into an operational follow-up process.
To be clear, public comment still matters. But when appropriate, the next step is to document the issue through the County’s formal process so the people responsible for County operations can review it, respond, and be held accountable.
Here's my online submission through the County's online complaint/request form sent 6-4-2026 at 0700:
First Name Dr. Sarah
Last Name
Email
Phone
Subject County Portal Video Playback Not Working
Comments I am submitting this complaint because the County portal and video playback are not working as of 6-3-2026, limiting public access to meeting recordings.
Please review and resolve the issue as soon as possible. I am requesting confirmation of when the portal/video playback will be restored. What alternative access is available while the portal is down?
Our amazing Loni replied back within minutes of my submission with this: Sarah,
I appreciate your complaint about the county however this is not a county issue.
We are aware of the video playback issue and are waiting for CivicClerk to fix it. Again, this is not a county issues, but a CivicClerk issue so it will be fixed when they get it fixed. There is no alternative access.
Dr Sarah, thank you for this information. I absolutely agree about the written word. As any attorney will tell you, "if it is not documented it didn't happen"
Thank you @Jennifer for your comments, like a good MBA would say “what isn’t measured, can’t be managed”, and we are asking for our limited resources to be managed well. By taking these next steps from public comment to public complaints/requests we are creating data points to help define the metrics we can start to use in order to better manage, if that makes sense?
I am now convinced Clallam County voters are becoming well organized and educated. Knowledge is power. The promotion of transparency will bring back the trust that has been lost.
Its the year 2026 and we have no checks and balances for our voting system. Its contrary to the basic tenants of our form of government, which is a "checks and balances system."
Vote by mail has no chance of any "checks and balances." so in essence what we have is a pseudo "checks and balances system."
No wonder its been "meet the new boss same as the old boss" around here.
All voters should be required to enter a voting center and cast a vote first through a system of three forms of voting tabulation.
After all the framers thought there should be three branches of government , so why are there not two more checks and balances for the elections for our form of government. Even cocktail lounges have better checks and balances than our system.
When I was a kid I would sit back in the office and watched the bartenders meter. Every time the bartender pushed a button on the liquor gun the meter in the office would track the number of shots.
Whatever your ideas for checks and balances are, I am sure there are plenty of options where volunteers can watch first hand.
Until we have a checks and balances for our voting system, we will continue to have a pseudo "checks and balances system."
It takes a lot of guts to run in todays system. Thanks to all of those people that try to buck the "progressive" trend.
Better yet one day voting like it used be at Grange hall or school + ID check right down to your signature. Toughs were the days, we NEED them back with this predicament were in.
Thank you for this! There is only one reason to oppose the SAVE Act -- you want to cheat in elections. Pretty funny (not!) when you look at the things you have to present a valid ID to do -- and voting ain't one of them. As Andy Rooney used to say, "I wonder why that is?"
It is obvious in this state that the elections are not the will of the people but the shenanigans that is going on behind closed doors. Until we have a qualified voting procedure the dems will have their way. Virginia sounds like a breath of fresh air.
Jeff thanks for the enlightenment. She’s got my vote.
I wish Virginia would concentrate on the illegal agreement between the Auditor's office and the County Commissioners that has ceded much of the Auditor's authority over auditing the County Commissioners to the Finance Director who reports to the County Commissioners. On the elections side, I wish Virginia would concentrate on overturning the latest rigged election of the Clallam Conservation District (that has admitted in writing that it only wanted people who voted in the past two CCD elections to vote in the latest election and took steps to assure that). Washington's method of assuring only citizens vote in its elections is left to the people where it should be. It is not decided by only allowing citizens to vote who are wealthy enough to provide proof of citizenship. Anyone who believes a non-citizen is registered to vote, and has proof of that, has a right to challenge that person's voter registration. That is participatory democracy. That is what we should have. I should add that the SAVE act is not going to pass anyway.
That is a shortcoming for checking those late registrants, but the number of those people registering at the last minute, and the likelihood of them not being qualified to vote are very, very, low comparatively. And that's really the key here, the draconian measures being taking to make sure not one person votes illegally threaten the rights of many, many more eligible voters to vote. The long and the short of this issue is that it is being blown all out of proportion to disenfranchise a lot of less wealthy people.
I don't think that checking for illegal, dead, or ineligible voters is draconian. Anyone can cheat and it costs people money, time, and angst. I have had to register to vote under three different names. My husband and I notified the CA registrar that we moved out of state and to take us off the voter rolls. I did it because it was the right thing to do. No one's legal vote should ever be canceled out by an illegal one.
Ron, are you saying checking on voter registration should be done after an election. Because the current laws in WA allow for same day registration and voting with no time to vet the registration before casting a ballot.
I am always impressed when someone demonstrates a knowledge of REAL history and especially someone who knows of Alexander the Great! You sound like a perfect Individual to be the Clallam County Auditor~! Thank you for writing such an accurate and timely article~! You are absolutely correct that the corrupt Washington State government is headed for a disaster because one way or another our elections must now be made to be honest. I happen to be one of the Individuals with the professional skill set and experience to know for a fact that the elections in Washington State have been corrupted for at least the past 30 years. In my professional review prior to that, I am absolutely sure that Washington State has not had an honest election for FAR longer than that (if ever). Thank you for your great work and I look forward to doing everything that I can to support you as Clallam County Auditor~!
Thank you Jeff and Virginia Shogren. I will most certainly vote for you! I was curious to see what the almighty LWV/slash had to say: "Washington’s voter registration system is being challenged." DECLINE TO SIGN. See more about the WA state law : https://www.lwvwa.org/IP26-500
A straightforward concern about election transparency. We have observers at ballot boxes and at the county elections center, but the least visible part of the process is the transport of ballots from drop boxes to the county facility. That stage has no public oversight, no cameras, no GPS requirements, and no opportunity for observers to accompany the transport team. In other states, weaknesses in chain of custody procedures have led to problems in other locations and states, and it is reasonable for voters to expect full transparency here as well.
I am not making accusations. I am raising a procedural concern that any responsible voters should be able to discuss without being dismissed as conspiratorial. In other states, weaknesses in chain of custody procedures have been exploited. When people are desperate, they sometimes take desperate measures. That is precisely why strong, transparent systems matter.
I also encourage citizens to get involved: volunteer as observers, participate in ballot watching, and support the most secure voting methods available. Trust is earned through transparency, and we all benefit when the process is fully open to public oversight.
Great point. And Alex Fane, who takes out the permits for Indivisible protests, is paid by the county to retrieve ballots from drop boxes and drive them to the courthouse.
When I worked in the water and wastewater industry, when samples were collected and were transported to the certified laboratory for analysis, mutltiple people would relay sample (s) to the next "runner", which were all documented by name along the journey. This procedure is referred to as the Chain of Custody, which is also a component of election integrity. When your name is on the line, people are held accountable to possible fraud. How does one acquire the Chain of Custody for ballots transported from collection site(s) to being received at the processing site, noting who received said ballots, which very likely involve multiple people?
Loved hearing all the radio clips of your articles!
So glad that Virginia is in the running for county auditor; with her record of going to court over the conservation district’s voting practices and securing a ruling that overturned their results, I would love to see what more she could do for this county in the auditor position. Looking forward to more of her articles!
Thank you for mentioning my weekend podcast with the Strait Shooter! This weekend will be another two-parter on the topic of jobs in Clallam County and the challenges surrounding job creation; a few issues we’ll discuss include local demographics, infrastructure, business requirements, work ethic, and overlooked solutions, all with good humor to keep it from sounding like another boring jobs forecast.
She is speaking common sense! More candidates like her, please!
We just have to remember that the power/money hungry elites of this state will do whatever it takes to maintain a strangle-hold (as we have seen with the the recent legislature session in Olympia) on all leadership positions.
Voting in candidates like Virginia and Jake et al, across our state, (along with repealing the mail-in voting cheating system), will be the strongest way to take back our county/state for common sense.
My appreciation for Virginia Shogren. It is absurd that proof of citizenship is not a mandate to vote in any country; let alone the USA. Without it foreigners can and do scam aid and assistance programs. In Somalia cheating the Government is a survival tactic. In the USA mail in ballots are a vote cheating tactic.
Denise, You made me laugh. I wouldn't have traded one 'whoopin' I got as a youngin'. Children learn consequences at an early age, there has to be consequences for any actions. To this day, I'm the worse liar in the world. I get nailed every time.
The County portal is still down, so I am submitting my concern directly through the County’s online complaint/request form:
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/FormCenter/Contact-Forms-4/Submit-a-Complaint-or-Request-Informatio-88
I encourage others to consider using this form when a public comment raises an issue that needs follow-up action. Public comment is important because it puts concerns on the public record. However, when an issue requires review, response, or accountability from County staff or officials, filing a formal complaint or request creates a clearer paper trail and helps move the concern from public testimony into an operational follow-up process.
To be clear, public comment still matters. But when appropriate, the next step is to document the issue through the County’s formal process so the people responsible for County operations can review it, respond, and be held accountable.
Here's my online submission through the County's online complaint/request form sent 6-4-2026 at 0700:
First Name Dr. Sarah
Last Name
Email
Phone
Subject County Portal Video Playback Not Working
Comments I am submitting this complaint because the County portal and video playback are not working as of 6-3-2026, limiting public access to meeting recordings.
Please review and resolve the issue as soon as possible. I am requesting confirmation of when the portal/video playback will be restored. What alternative access is available while the portal is down?
Our amazing Loni replied back within minutes of my submission with this: Sarah,
I appreciate your complaint about the county however this is not a county issue.
We are aware of the video playback issue and are waiting for CivicClerk to fix it. Again, this is not a county issues, but a CivicClerk issue so it will be fixed when they get it fixed. There is no alternative access.
Loni
Dr Sarah, thank you for this information. I absolutely agree about the written word. As any attorney will tell you, "if it is not documented it didn't happen"
Thank you @Jennifer for your comments, like a good MBA would say “what isn’t measured, can’t be managed”, and we are asking for our limited resources to be managed well. By taking these next steps from public comment to public complaints/requests we are creating data points to help define the metrics we can start to use in order to better manage, if that makes sense?
Dr Sarah, my small brain understands and makes sense of it as, "it only works until it doesn't" I'm there with you.
Haha, honestly well said! Another saying from AA is “it works if you work it”
WE ARE GETTING OUR DUCKS IN A ROW!
Articles like this are powerful.
I am now convinced Clallam County voters are becoming well organized and educated. Knowledge is power. The promotion of transparency will bring back the trust that has been lost.
VOTE FOR COMMON SENSE
It only takes one voice, at the right pitch, to start an avalanche
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IaYm3NjJnM
My corgi started howling when I played this!! lol
ABEETLE, he's howling with the big dogs! That's so cute ; )
Its the year 2026 and we have no checks and balances for our voting system. Its contrary to the basic tenants of our form of government, which is a "checks and balances system."
Vote by mail has no chance of any "checks and balances." so in essence what we have is a pseudo "checks and balances system."
No wonder its been "meet the new boss same as the old boss" around here.
All voters should be required to enter a voting center and cast a vote first through a system of three forms of voting tabulation.
After all the framers thought there should be three branches of government , so why are there not two more checks and balances for the elections for our form of government. Even cocktail lounges have better checks and balances than our system.
When I was a kid I would sit back in the office and watched the bartenders meter. Every time the bartender pushed a button on the liquor gun the meter in the office would track the number of shots.
Whatever your ideas for checks and balances are, I am sure there are plenty of options where volunteers can watch first hand.
Until we have a checks and balances for our voting system, we will continue to have a pseudo "checks and balances system."
It takes a lot of guts to run in todays system. Thanks to all of those people that try to buck the "progressive" trend.
Vote Virginia Shogren for Clallam County Auditor.
Vote our newest Wedge Virginia!! Vote Jake the Wedge the list is growing. Yeah
This business where they keep counting for days and weeks after the election has to end.
Better yet one day voting like it used be at Grange hall or school + ID check right down to your signature. Toughs were the days, we NEED them back with this predicament were in.
Thank you for this! There is only one reason to oppose the SAVE Act -- you want to cheat in elections. Pretty funny (not!) when you look at the things you have to present a valid ID to do -- and voting ain't one of them. As Andy Rooney used to say, "I wonder why that is?"
It is obvious in this state that the elections are not the will of the people but the shenanigans that is going on behind closed doors. Until we have a qualified voting procedure the dems will have their way. Virginia sounds like a breath of fresh air.
Jeff thanks for the enlightenment. She’s got my vote.
Virginia running for auditor just made my whole week!!!!! Amazing news! Thankyouthankyouthankyou
I would love an article or interview with her where she talks about her background and history litigating these issues please!
Let's see if we can make that happen.
ID required
Banks
Buying liquor
Airplane rides
Cashing a hand pay at Casinos
Drs visits
Employment
But NOT for voting
I wish Virginia would concentrate on the illegal agreement between the Auditor's office and the County Commissioners that has ceded much of the Auditor's authority over auditing the County Commissioners to the Finance Director who reports to the County Commissioners. On the elections side, I wish Virginia would concentrate on overturning the latest rigged election of the Clallam Conservation District (that has admitted in writing that it only wanted people who voted in the past two CCD elections to vote in the latest election and took steps to assure that). Washington's method of assuring only citizens vote in its elections is left to the people where it should be. It is not decided by only allowing citizens to vote who are wealthy enough to provide proof of citizenship. Anyone who believes a non-citizen is registered to vote, and has proof of that, has a right to challenge that person's voter registration. That is participatory democracy. That is what we should have. I should add that the SAVE act is not going to pass anyway.
If it wasn't for people like you who know these details you've provided I'd be in the dark. Thank you.
That is a shortcoming for checking those late registrants, but the number of those people registering at the last minute, and the likelihood of them not being qualified to vote are very, very, low comparatively. And that's really the key here, the draconian measures being taking to make sure not one person votes illegally threaten the rights of many, many more eligible voters to vote. The long and the short of this issue is that it is being blown all out of proportion to disenfranchise a lot of less wealthy people.
I don't think that checking for illegal, dead, or ineligible voters is draconian. Anyone can cheat and it costs people money, time, and angst. I have had to register to vote under three different names. My husband and I notified the CA registrar that we moved out of state and to take us off the voter rolls. I did it because it was the right thing to do. No one's legal vote should ever be canceled out by an illegal one.
Ron, are you saying checking on voter registration should be done after an election. Because the current laws in WA allow for same day registration and voting with no time to vet the registration before casting a ballot.
thank you Ron. Very insightful.
Excellent article, Patriot Virginia Shogren~!
I am always impressed when someone demonstrates a knowledge of REAL history and especially someone who knows of Alexander the Great! You sound like a perfect Individual to be the Clallam County Auditor~! Thank you for writing such an accurate and timely article~! You are absolutely correct that the corrupt Washington State government is headed for a disaster because one way or another our elections must now be made to be honest. I happen to be one of the Individuals with the professional skill set and experience to know for a fact that the elections in Washington State have been corrupted for at least the past 30 years. In my professional review prior to that, I am absolutely sure that Washington State has not had an honest election for FAR longer than that (if ever). Thank you for your great work and I look forward to doing everything that I can to support you as Clallam County Auditor~!
Sincerely, Mike
Thank you Jeff and Virginia Shogren. I will most certainly vote for you! I was curious to see what the almighty LWV/slash had to say: "Washington’s voter registration system is being challenged." DECLINE TO SIGN. See more about the WA state law : https://www.lwvwa.org/IP26-500
Just look at the list of organizations the "nonpartisan" LWV partnered with at the bottom of that website.
I know! Right!? "Non-partisan" my foot! They left out one - CPUSA - Wheeler's party LOL
Eye opener!
It’s becoming obvious that WA state and some local governments have no interest in the will of the people. Its time to appeal to a higher authority.
A straightforward concern about election transparency. We have observers at ballot boxes and at the county elections center, but the least visible part of the process is the transport of ballots from drop boxes to the county facility. That stage has no public oversight, no cameras, no GPS requirements, and no opportunity for observers to accompany the transport team. In other states, weaknesses in chain of custody procedures have led to problems in other locations and states, and it is reasonable for voters to expect full transparency here as well.
I am not making accusations. I am raising a procedural concern that any responsible voters should be able to discuss without being dismissed as conspiratorial. In other states, weaknesses in chain of custody procedures have been exploited. When people are desperate, they sometimes take desperate measures. That is precisely why strong, transparent systems matter.
I also encourage citizens to get involved: volunteer as observers, participate in ballot watching, and support the most secure voting methods available. Trust is earned through transparency, and we all benefit when the process is fully open to public oversight.
Great point. And Alex Fane, who takes out the permits for Indivisible protests, is paid by the county to retrieve ballots from drop boxes and drive them to the courthouse.
Talk about a Carpetbagger...
When I worked in the water and wastewater industry, when samples were collected and were transported to the certified laboratory for analysis, mutltiple people would relay sample (s) to the next "runner", which were all documented by name along the journey. This procedure is referred to as the Chain of Custody, which is also a component of election integrity. When your name is on the line, people are held accountable to possible fraud. How does one acquire the Chain of Custody for ballots transported from collection site(s) to being received at the processing site, noting who received said ballots, which very likely involve multiple people?
You have to provide ID to pay for postage with a personal check at the post office. But not for voting. Un-believable. Vote Virginia Shogren.
Loved hearing all the radio clips of your articles!
So glad that Virginia is in the running for county auditor; with her record of going to court over the conservation district’s voting practices and securing a ruling that overturned their results, I would love to see what more she could do for this county in the auditor position. Looking forward to more of her articles!
Thank you for mentioning my weekend podcast with the Strait Shooter! This weekend will be another two-parter on the topic of jobs in Clallam County and the challenges surrounding job creation; a few issues we’ll discuss include local demographics, infrastructure, business requirements, work ethic, and overlooked solutions, all with good humor to keep it from sounding like another boring jobs forecast.
She is speaking common sense! More candidates like her, please!
We just have to remember that the power/money hungry elites of this state will do whatever it takes to maintain a strangle-hold (as we have seen with the the recent legislature session in Olympia) on all leadership positions.
Voting in candidates like Virginia and Jake et al, across our state, (along with repealing the mail-in voting cheating system), will be the strongest way to take back our county/state for common sense.
My appreciation for Virginia Shogren. It is absurd that proof of citizenship is not a mandate to vote in any country; let alone the USA. Without it foreigners can and do scam aid and assistance programs. In Somalia cheating the Government is a survival tactic. In the USA mail in ballots are a vote cheating tactic.
Sarbanes Oxley, 2FA, segregation of duties...you see checks and balances everywhere, just not in voting.
MK, growing up in my Marine Corps family, our check and balance was the belt! It worked.
I still rub my hiney once in a while. Ouch.
Denise, You made me laugh. I wouldn't have traded one 'whoopin' I got as a youngin'. Children learn consequences at an early age, there has to be consequences for any actions. To this day, I'm the worse liar in the world. I get nailed every time.
Likewise my dad was a marine. Tough cookie!
Had my mom been a Marine I'd have no hide today. That wood rug beater was brutal.
At the very least, 2FA. I'd like to see Multi-Factor. We do it everyday online!