Special Election Ballots Sent to Mercer Island Homes Today

Mercer Isand's 16,632 voters will join five other commuities in receiving their ballot this week to take part in the April 17 Special Election.

At issue on Mercer Island is whether or not voters should allow the Mercer Island School Disrtict to raise $196 million in school construction bonds, with the stated purpose of rebuilding all of the Island's K-8 schools. Passage of the bond requires a 60 percent yes vote and a minimum turnout of 3,971 votes.

See here for more perspectives on the school bond and our earlier reporting on the issue.

King County voters in the following districts will begin receiving the April 17 Special Election ballots in the mail this week:

• Auburn Transportation Benefit District
• City of Enumclaw
• Issaquah School District No. 411
• Mercer Island School District No. 400
• Renton School District No. 403
• South King Fire & Rescue

Auburn Transportation Benefit District, City of Enumclaw, Mercer Island School District No. 400, and South King Fire & Rescue voters will also receive pamphlets with their ballots. These districts opted to pay to have a voters’ pamphlet published.

“Vote and return your ballot as soon as possible,” said Elections Director Sherril Huff. “The earlier voters return their ballots to the Elections Department, the better. We check every voter’s signature before opening the ballots and have a limited amount of time to contact voters if there are any issues to correct.”

Six King County ballot drop box locations will open Mar. 29 for voters to return their ballots postage-free. The ballot drop boxes close at 8:00 p.m. on Apr. 17.

Voters can also return their ballot by mail through the postal service using a $0.45 first class stamp. Ballots must be postmarked by Apr. 17.

To ensure that voters with disabilities are able to cast a private and independent ballot, the county will open an accessible voting center in Renton on Mar. 30.

Tips on how to vote

• Read the ballot instructions before voting
• Use a black ink pen to fill out the ballot
• Tear the stub off of the top of the ballot and recycle it
• Sign the voter’s declaration on the back of the envelope using your official signature
• Return your ballot early so it can be part of the Election Night results report and there is enough time to correct any issues that may be associated with your signature

Voters can view a list of measures that appear on their ballot using Voter Guide on the King County Elections website.

For more information on voting by mail, watch a short video, visit the Elections website, or call 206-296-VOTE (8683).