County transportation package traveling on road to failure as voter turnout nears expected total

By Evan Smith

Returns from the Tuesday special election updated Thursday continued to show the King County roads and transit package losing, as the ballot count neared its expected final total.

Elections officials had counted ballots from 37.03 percent of registered County voters through Thursday, meaning that they probably would reach the 38 percent turnout that they had planned for.

• Tuesday night returns showed Proposition 1 failing by a 55.28 percent to 44.72 percent margin.
• Wednesday afternoon returns, including all ballots from drop boxes and vans, showed the proposal getting marginally closer but still losing by a 54.51 percent to 45.49 percent margin.
• Thursday vote totals showed Proposition 1 failing by a 54.15 percent to 45.85 percent margin.
• Friday vote totals showed Proposition 1 failing by a 54.01 percent to 45.99 percent margin.

King County planned to release updated returns each weekday afternoon until final certification of results May 6.

Election Results: Special Election, April 22

King County Transportation District

Proposition 1 – Sales and use tax and vehicle fee for transportation improvements

Election Results Updated Friday, April 25 at 4:00pm

Ballots counted: 440,120, 37.46% of 1,174,773 registered King County voters

Yes -- 202,162 votes, 45.99%

No --- 237,420 votes, 54.01%