Low Voter Turnout Kills Renton Schools Construction Bond

RENTON, WA - A $250 million Renton schools construction and facilities bond issue has failed, but not because it was unpopular.

On Thursday morning, the measure was being approved by nearly 63 percent. But not enough voters turned out in the election to get it over the finish line. To pass, 18,578 Renton residents needed to vote in the election, but only 17,098 did, according to King County Elections.

The measure would've allowed the district bond money to pay for security upgrades and build more classrooms, and build new elementary school in the Hazen area.

As the Seattle Times pointed out, this is the third time Renton has failed to pass a schools construction measure in recent years.

The district's other measure, a levy to fund educational programs, passed with 62.5 percent of the vote. Since it was a levy, it only needed a simple majority to pass.

There were only 30 votes left to count in the February special election as of Thursday. Voter turnout county-wide in the February special election was only about 31 percent, on par with turnout in the 2018 February special election.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly referred to the failed measure as a levy.