Island County Elections Office made regional news and loomed large on Whidbey Island social media because of two different incidents over the last year.

On Oct. 23, a pile of 32 unopened ballots were found on the side of the street in Oak Harbor, which caused the Elections Office to quickly issue replacements.

Then on Monday, an elections observer for the Island County Republican Party was escorted by police from the ballot counting room after she refused to wear a mask. People posting on the party’s Facebook page called for protests at the county Auditor’s Office.

Tracy Abuhl posted a video on Facebook of the Coupeville marshal and a deputy with the Island County Sheriff’s Office escorting her out of the office after she refused to wear a mask to prevent the spread of illness. She claimed that she is an official observer and that her removal was unconstitutional.

A similar incident happened during the counting of ballots in the primary election. At that time, Abuhl and another observer were given the option of wearing masks or taking COVID tests because someone in the office had previously been diagnosed with the illness; they were asked to leave when they refused both options, according to a GOP official.

Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said county Auditor Sheilah Crider acted within her legal authority to maintain a safe and healthy workforce.

“More importantly, she fulfilled her duty to ensure this election is conducted with the utmost integrity and free from harm caused by the would-be disrupters,” he said. “The ballot counting room is a sacred space where selfless public servants do the vital work of perpetuating our democracy. It is no place for childish theatrical stunts and baseless claims of constitutional violations.“

Nevertheless, many Whidbey residents expressed outrage on social media, speculating that the Elections Office is trying to hide something and is plotting against the Republican party, despite the fact that Crider is a Republican.

In the incident last week, the U.S. Postal Service is investigating after a man riding a bike found rain-soaked ballots scattered on the side of the road, near mailboxes on Southwest Heights Road and 29th Street. The ballots were found with other mail, such as medical bills.

Michele Reagan, elections supervisor, said the ballots were outgoing and unopened, so the office was able to notify those people affected and issue them new, dry ballots.

Crider and Abuhl didn’t immediately return calls for comment.