February 2020 Special Election In King County: What To Know

KING COUNTY, WA — With a special election deadline just a few hours away, now is a good time to finish up your ballot and take it to a local dropbox. In Washington, all ballots are sent to your registered address and can be returned to a dropbox or taken to a voting center until 8 p.m Tuesday. Depending on timing, mailing last-minute ballots on Election Day can be risky, because they must be show a postmark on Feb. 11.

While the deadline for online voter registrations has passed, any eligible resident who still needs to register can do so in person, right up to the last moment.

Feb. 11 Special Election Highlights In King County:

Bellevue School District No. 405
Proposition No. 1
The $675 million bond measure would allow the Bellevue School District funding to rebuild Big Picture, International and Jing Mei Schools, while expanding Newport and Interlake high schools. The measure will also allow the district to implement new safety measures and other district-wide improvements. If approved, the district would be permitted to levy additional property taxes to help repay the bonds. The measure requires a 60 percent majority to pass.

Enumclaw School District No. 216
Proposition No. 1
Referred to as an "instructional technology levy," this proposition would fund district plans to purchase and upgrade equipment for student learning. The levy would be paid by a property tax of 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed value through 2026. The measure requires a simple majority to pass.

Issaquah School District No. 411
Proposition No. 1
This ballot measure would support ongoing school programs and daily operations not fully-funded by the state. The money would go into the district's general fund to help pay for teaching, classroom materials, technology, extracurricular activities, building maintenance and district transportation. The two-year levy would add a $1.33 property tax per $1,000 of assessed value in 2021 and a $1.36 tax in 2022. The measure requires a simple majority to pass.

Valley Regional Fire Authority
Proposition No. 1
This proposition seeks to restore a levy for fire and paramedic services in the towns of Algona, Auburn and Pacific. A property tax rate of $1 per $1,000 of assessed value would be collected in 2021. According to the measure's explanatory statement, a home valued at $350,000 would see a tax bill averaging $91, which would be largely offset by a reduced "fire benefit charge." The measure requires a simple majority to pass.

King Conservation District Board of Supervisors
Stephen Carl Deutchman and Chris Porter are running to fill an open seat on the King Conservation District board, an all-volunteer body that guides conservation efforts in King County, except in the cities of Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific and Skykomish. With historically low turnout, this year voters have the option to vote for a candidate using an online system on their mobile devices. Ballots can also be returned by mail, dropbox or in-person.

Review everything listed on ballots across King County here.
Find your nearest dropbox on the King County Elections map.
Check your voter registration status here.

Washington votes in the 2020 Presidential Primary on March 10. Another special election is slated for April 28.

Questions? Call 206-296-VOTE.