King County

Bellevue’s city council recently adopted Ordinance No. 6671 which would increase the levy that maintains the city’s beautiful public parks and open spaces.

The levy would provide nine years of funding for improving, expanding, and maintaining green spaces for everyone in Bellevue to enjoy. Specifically, Proposition 1 would allow the city to acquire land and create parks in Eastgate, Factoria, Ashwood Park, Bel-Red, and Wilburton, as well as improve waterfront access and expand off-leash dog areas throughout the park system.

This levy would cost the owner of a median $1.5 million home approximately $300 per year. Some seniors, veterans, and other qualifying community members would qualify for exemptions to the levy.

Vote “Yes” on Proposition 1 to keep Bellevue a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.

Mercer Island Proposition 1 relates to Ordinance No. 22-13, a policy adopted by the Mercer Island City Council that would fund park operations, maintenance, and capital projects.

The levy was introduced in 2008, and this year’s proposition will specifically help to cover the Luther Burbank Park operations and forest restoration projects in Pioneer Park and Engstrom Open Space for the next 16 years.

Access to healthy outdoor spaces is an important contributor to Washington’s high quality of life, and it requires community investment. Vote “Yes” for Mercer Island Proposition 1 to keep investing in the public green space that benefits us all.

We recommend voting Yes on Question 1 and voting for Proposition 1B on Question 2.

More than ever before, voters are looking for meaningful choices in elections, with a strong desire to make campaigns less toxic and ensure that our voices are heard. To that end, two propositions appear on the ballot together this year: Seattle Propositions 1A and 1B. While both offer alternatives to the single-choice voting system currently used in Seattle primary elections, Proposition 1B, which offers ranked choice voting, is the most effective and most thoroughly tested method for increasing representation.

This ballot measure first asks whether either of the propositions should be approved and second asks you to choose between the two, regardless of whether you believe either should be enacted. If the first question passes with a simple majority, the proposition with the most votes from the second question will be approved.

Proposition 1A refers to Initiative Petition 134 to introduce "approval voting," a method by which voters vote for any and all candidates they approve of. In this system, the two candidates receiving the most total votes for office will continue on to the general election. Some community leaders have voiced concern over the legality of this system and whether it violates the one person, one vote principle. In places where this has been tried, some voters still choose to vote for one candidate so that they don't dilute support for their favorite candidate.

Ranked choice voting is backed by much more extensive data and research than approval voting. Ranked choice voting has already been implemented in 26 U.S. cities and states, including New York City, Maine, Alaska, and many organizations and countries around the world, compared to just two cities - Fargo and St. Louis - for approval voting. In addition, progressives have raised concern about whether approval voting will give an outsized electoral say to wealthier and whiter primary voters due to its design, which can allow smaller, more homogenous groups of voters to choose both candidates that advance to the general election.

Ranked choice voting is simple - voters rank candidates in order of preference, and can rank as many candidates as they choose without hurting the chances of their favored candidate. If there is no majority winner, meaning no candidate receives more than half of the first choices, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and any voter who picked that candidate as their top choice will have their next choice counted, until a majority winner emerges.

Vote "Yes" on Question 1 and vote for Proposition 1B on Question 2 to bring ranked choice voting to Seattle primary elections. 

Tukwila Initiative 1 – the “Raise the Wage” initiative – will allow working people to be compensated fairly for their labor, help residents keep pace with the cost of living, and invest in the local economy.

The initiative would require businesses with more than 500 employees to pay employee wages equivalent to comparable positions in nearby cities that rise with inflation. The measure is meant to address Tukwila’s relatively low wages compared with neighboring cities, which have caused residents to search for jobs outside the city.

Vote “Yes” on Initiative 1 to support working people and keep Tukwila's economy competitive.

Our students deserve modern and safe facilities where they can learn and grow. Proposition 1 for the Highline School District 401 would invest in critical upgrades to school infrastructure so that our students can equitably access a quality education.

If passed, the proposition would provide $518 million to rebuild three aging schools: Evergreen High School, Tyee High School, and Pacific Middle School. It would also allow general capital improvements for the entire school district. The owner of a median $600,000 home in the Highline school district would pay about $396 per year to support local classrooms through these bonds.

Vote “Approved” on Highline School District 401, Proposition 1 to invest in our students by giving them a safe and well-resourced place to learn.

Renton students need safe, secure, and well-resourced schools in order to succeed. Proposition 1 for Renton School District 403 would provide much-needed investments in capital improvements and critical upgrades for district schools.

The $676 million measure proposes to replace the aging Renton High School and make safety, security, and seismic infrastructure updates across the district. The proposition will go a long way toward ensuring our students have the best environments to learn in.

Vote “Approved” to Proposition 1 in Renton School District 403.