A federal investigation has concluded regarding the missing vote-by-mail ballots for Garfield, finding no evidence of wrongdoing by the U.S. Postal Service.

In the lead-up to the last general election, Whitman County Auditor Sandy Jamison discovered that approximately 250 voters in Garfield did not receive their ballots in the mail. The auditor’s office managed to provide ballots to most affected voters, ensuring their participation in the November election. According to Jamison, an executive at the postal service sorting facility in Spokane indicated that they had received the ballots that later went missing.

Conflicting information from the USPS emerged in March when Customer Relations Manager Janella Herron stated that an extensive investigation was unable to confirm whether the post office had ever received the lost ballots. The situation evolved as Jamison and Pullman Radio News were informed that the USPS Office of the Inspector General was conducting a continuing investigation. Jamison subsequently reached out to Congressman Michael Baumgartner’s office for updates on the investigation. Both Baumgartner’s office and Pullman Radio News received notification from the OIG that the investigation had concluded without finding any wrongdoing, resulting in its closure.

On Tuesday, Jamison expressed her frustration with the investigation’s outcome and stated that she would enhance collaboration with the USPS concerning future vote-by-mail elections.