Seattle Special Election Results: School Levies See Firm Support

SEATTLE — The polls have closed and the first round of election results have arrived for several communities across King County. More than 1.1 million registered voters were eligible to cast ballots in the February election, with school levies up for consideration in districts around Seattle and the Eastside.

Voters in Seattle saw a pair of levy renewals on their February ballots. The first, designed to raise nearly $647 million over three years, would help fund positions for teachers, instructional assistants and other staff, along with textbooks and other classroom supplies, student transportation, security, maintenance and other extracurricular activities.

The second levy renewal, valued at $783 million over six years, would help modernize schools across the city, enhancing fire safety, earthquake readiness, air quality, energy efficiency, student technology, drinking water improvements, along with remodeling athletic facilities, including at Memorial Stadium.

Both measures had overwhelming support in early results.

Here's how results were shaping up after the first ballot drop on election night:

Proposition No. 1

• Yes: 76.28%
• No: 23.72%

Proposition No. 2

• Yes: 76.57%
• No: 23.43%

King County Elections mailed ballots to voters in January and expected roughly 32 percent — or 380,000 ballots — would be returned. County data showed turnout trending a little lower leading up to election night, with 25 percent marked as returned earlier Tuesday. However, last-minute ballots postmarked or dropped off on Election Day will be added to the tally in the coming days.

Results will be updated and posted online daily until the special election is certified on Feb. 18.