February Special Election Ballots Due Tuesday In Seattle, Enumclaw

KING COUNTY, WA — Voters in Seattle and Enumclaw have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to participate in the February special election, which features one ballot measure in both cities. Separately, voters in most areas can submit an online ballot for the King Conservation District Board of Supervisors election.

Of the approximately 500,000 voters that can participate in the special election, officials estimated 478,000 are in Seattle, with the remaining voters living in Enumclaw. King County Elections projects 33 percent of voters will participate by the deadline, but turnout figures were still lagging in the final days.

As of Monday morning, county data showed just 18 percent of Seattle voters had returned a ballot, compared to nearly 29 percent of Enumclaw voters.

In the Emerald City, voters are considering Initiative 135, which seeks to create a public authority to purchase, develop and maintain publicly-owned social housing projects for mixed income levels. House Our Neighbors, the group behind the measure, launched a campaign to get on the ballot last March but failed to secure signatures in time to make the November ballot.

The group was granted an extra 20 days to come up with the needed signatures and the Seattle City Council approved the resolution to appear in the February special election.

In Enumclaw, voters see Proposition 1, a $253 million bond measure meant to fund the construction of a new elementary school, performing arts center, and athletic complex. It would also provide funding to replace Byron Kibler Elementary and an early learning center at JJ smith, along with districtwide security and infrastructure upgrades.

Like with standard elections, ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Feb. 14, or placed in an official dropbox by 8 p.m. Nearly three dozen drop boxes remain open until the deadline. In-person services are available until the polls close at King County Elections headquarters in Renton.

Most King County voters are also eligible to cast an online ballot for the King Conservation District's annual Board of Supervisors election, which attracted three candidates vying for one seat this month. The board oversees an $8 million budget, promoting conservation efforts regionwide.

That election is open to all King County residents except those living in Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific and Skykomish — those jurisdictions are not members of the district.

Here are some resources from King County Elections:

• Measures on the ballot
• Elections website
• Renton Vote Center at Elections HQ
• Ballot tracker
• Ballot drop box locations
• Contact Elections for assistance
• King Conservation District election