King County Elections certified the April 17 Special Election today, with final election results available on the County’s web site. More than 80,000 voters (34 percent) cast ballots, meeting the projected turnout of 34 percent. The County mailed ballots to nearly 240,000 voters.
The vote on the Mercer Island School District Bond issue when election officials released their election night April 17 tally indicating defeat of the bond by a 21-point margin. Just under 10 percent of the vote trickled in after election night, with late votes split roughtly 50-50.
The school bond vote also drove a relatively high level of turnout, compared with other races. The 58-percent turnout nearly matched last year's general election levels on Mercer Island of 61 percent.
Two other school districts asking voters to approve constrution bonds passed their measures. Renton School District voters approved $97 million in bonds 60.5 to 39.4 percent. Voters in Issaquah overwhelming supported a $219 million bond, 70-30.
, a majority of readers said they had trouble trying to discern why the bond was needed, with 26 percent complaining that there was a lack of transparency or specifics in bond, and 24 percent said there was too much unfounded rumor and disinformation about it.
The next election will be the August 7 Primary. Register to vote by mail or online at www.kingcounty.gov/elections by July 9 to participate in the August election. The in-person voter registration deadline for the Primary Election is July 30. Registered voters should keep their name and address updated with Elections.
Mercer Island School District No. 400
Ballots Cast Registered Voters Percent 977616953 57.67% Proposition No. 1 General Obligation Bonds - $196,275,000 Position Votes Percent APPROVED 3970 40.64% REJECTED 5798 59.36%
April 2012 Special Election: By the numbers
Ballots issued................................... 239,254
Ballots returned.................................. 80,443
Ballots counted................................... 78,773
Discrepancies............................................... 0
Ballots cast on AVUs................................... 6
Ballots returned at drop boxes............ 6,373
Signature challenge ballots................ 1,851
Challenged ballots cured.................... 1,086
Returned too late..................................... 703
Returned as undeliverable................. 1,426
Calls to voter hotline............................ 1,220
Emails to Voter Services......................... 183
— Information from King County Elections
