Still counting after 60 years of service

Published 1:30 am Friday, August 7, 2026

Driving home from an Election Day shift decades ago after a bitterly cold day working the polls in Oak Harbor, Dolores “Doddie” Hanby found herself pulled over for driving too slowly on an icy highway. With bags of ballots in the car, the longtime Island County election worker briefly wondered whether the county might have to retrieve them from jail.

For the nearly 99-year-old, that’s one of countless memories gathered over roughly 60 years working Island County elections, a role she began when voting still meant showing up at neighborhood polling places instead of mailing ballots.

Over the decades, Hanby watched elections move from a jury room to a dedicated elections facility.

Hanby believes participation has grown as voting has become more accessible.

Now, as part of the team working this week’s primary election, she handles ballots after signatures have been verified. Rather than tallying votes, her team removes ballots from envelopes, separates those requiring manual review — such as certain write-in votes — and prepares them for the next stage of processing.

The work varies with each election. Smaller local contests can mean lighter workloads, while statewide and general elections bring a steady stream of ballots through the office.

Age has brought a pair of hip surgeries and some physical limitations, but with her 99th birthday coming up in January, Hanby has no desire to slow down.

“As long as it’s a sit down job,” she said with a smile.

What keeps bringing her back isn’t politics. Instead, she values the relationships built over the years alongside fellow election workers.

“We get to know each other, get to love each other,” she said. “It is kind of a whole community of its own.”

Hanby is well-loved by her colleagues, Elections Supervisor Michele Reagan included. Reagan said Hanby’s positive attitude and commitment to accuracy make her a crucial part of the team.

“I want to be her when I grow up,” Reagan said.

Hanby’s sense of purpose has also carried through her life outside the elections office. She and her late husband raised four children after moving to Whidbey Island 73 years ago. They were married for 67 years, remained active in their church for decades and watched their family grow to include grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even great-great-grandchildren.

Although the island has changed over the years, she still appreciates its quieter pace and close-knit community. As another election season unfolds, she hopes younger generations recognize the significance of participating in the democratic process.

“It is very important that we have the privilege of being able to vote,” she said. “It may not go the way we want it to, but it’s a privilege we have that a lot of countries don’t have.”

Register to vote at the Island County Elections Office in Coupeville or visit www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-registration/register-vote-washington.