The Grays Harbor County Commission should be a little more embracing of the “unfunded mandate” of building ballot boxes in the county.

Both Commissioner Randy Ross and Commissioner Vickie Raines cited the principle of fighting an “unfunded mandate” from the state. And they are right to do so. The County Auditor’s Office says the boxes cost about $4,533.42 each. With 12 more new boxes required by the state, the $54,400 price tag is significant.

But our democracy has now been under constant attack for at least three years, since Russians first hacked the Democratic National Committee. We know that at least 21 states, including Washington, have experienced assaults on their elections systems from overseas.

Our state’s ballots offer invaluable paper-trails should interference be suspected.

Residents throughout the county deserve access to voting.

The commissioners say they want to help the homeless and poor. Help them by providing them with access to our democracy.