King County has made several changes to its vote-by-mail system for the Feb. 9 election.

While there will continue to be two 24-hour ballot drop boxes available to voters who want to return their ballot without postage, other drop-off box locations won’t be available.

“King County had to make some hard choices to balance the 2010 operating budget,” said Elections Director Sherril Huff. “As a cost savings measure, Elections was asked to reduce the number of ballot drop boxes as well as the operational hours of accessible voting centers.”

People can drop their ballot off at two locations beginning Friday, Jan. 22 through 8 p.m. Election Day, Feb. 9. They are at the King County Elections office, 9010 East Marginal Way S, Tukwila and at the King County Administration Building, 500 4th Ave. in downtown Seattle

Voters with disabilities can cast a private and independent ballot at the following locations, dates and times:

King County Elections, 9010 East Marginal Way S, Tukwila, weekdays, Jan. 20 – Feb. 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave. NE; and Seattle, Union Station, 401 S Jackson St., Seattle on Monday, Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.