ELECTION 2015: ‘Move Seattle,’ ‘Honest Elections,’ ‘Best Starts for Kids’ passing, and other ballot-measure results

Tonight’s most-watched ballot measure is Seattle Proposition 1, the $930 million transportation levy known as “Move Seattle.” Find results here – it’s passing (corrected) 57 percent to 43 percent after the first count.

Other ballot measures of note:

Seattle Initiative 122, “Honest Elections,” regarding campaign funding – results here – passing with 60 percent approval

ADDED 10:17 PM: In a statement sent to media, Honest Elections backers say, “”Seattle voters won big tonight. Seattle leads the nation, first on $15/hour and now on campaign finance reform. We look forward to seeing more cities and states implementing their own local solutions to the problem of big money in politics. … This is what democracy looks like, and we expect to see more grassroots campaigns like this one in Seattle. More than 32,000 voters put Honest Elections on the ballot, and hundreds of people who’d never helped with a political campaign before made small dollar contributions, knocked on thousands of doors and made thousands of phone calls to pass Honest Elections. People around the country are tired of waiting for Congress to get big money out of politics. We may not be able to change Citizens United, but we’re doing everything we can by passing our own citizen initiatives to limit big money and give ordinary voters a stronger voice in government.”

Back to results:

King County Proposition 1, “Best Starts for Kids” – results here – passing with 53 percent approval

ADDED 10:17 PM: We talked with King County Executive Dow Constantine, who pushed to get “Best Starts” onto the ballot:

While our camera continued rolling, we asked what else he thought was noteworthy this Election Night. See his full response here; in short – passage of “Move Seattle” (he had been at its victory party earlier); the prevalence of what he described as “level-headed” candidates in the City Council race; and the results in an Eastside County Council race, Bellevue Mayor Claudia Balducci defeating longtime incumbent Councilmember Jane Hague – Constantine observed that the Eastside is increasingly Democratic.

Back to results:

State Initiative 1366, state taxes/fees – results here – passing with 54 percent approval

State Initiative 1401, animal trafficking – results here – passing with 71 percent approval

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For the full list of results around Seattle and the rest of King County, go here; for the full list of state-issue results, go here.

54 Replies to "ELECTION 2015: 'Move Seattle,' 'Honest Elections,' 'Best Starts for Kids' passing, and other ballot-measure results"

  • GOP in WS November 3, 2015 (8:26 pm)

    I realize these are early results, but I’m surprise Prop 1 is leading.

  • YourAdHere November 3, 2015 (8:52 pm)

    Looking forward to all the wasteful projects SDOT will mismanage with their blank check.

  • Trickycoolj November 3, 2015 (8:56 pm)

    King5 declared a prop 1 victory but that seems like not a big margin for a first count. Either way I’m wondering how much longer a mortgage is do-able with all these levies before I have to get a roommate. Or a spouse.

  • wsguy November 3, 2015 (9:06 pm)

    Just keep piling on the property taxes – no end in sight. And more to come next year I am sure…

  • M November 3, 2015 (9:24 pm)

    Guess I will have to increase my rents again.

  • Let'sMoveOutofSeattle November 3, 2015 (9:51 pm)

    so ready to move we just approved 1 billion dollars in new taxes that do nothing to Help traffic and don’t hold anybody accountable. almost half goes to bike lanes and pedestrian bs projects. I hope you enjoy your 500k studio with your 400 million dollars in bike lanes. We might get a few streets paved. Next year pile on anothe 16 billion for light rail that my grandchildren might get to use. Do voters not know how to read anymore in this town. How’s that improved bus service working out we paid for my bus is actually worse. This isn’t going to help other than sucking money from working families to prop up sdot which is terrible at managing existing infrastructure

  • Steve November 3, 2015 (10:01 pm)

    Yes wsguy. I would be so fed up! Whenever something needs funding, the poor slob that owns a home gets taken to the cleaners. Where’s the outrage? No doubt rent will be going up.

  • E November 3, 2015 (10:21 pm)

    Hey folks, we live in something called a democracy. We vote and then do what the majority of people approve. If you don’t like the results, you’re free to leave, but please, quitcher bitching. There have been plenty of elections where I personally have not liked the results, but dealt with it. So deal with it.

    Oh, and if you don’t like property and sales taxes, tell the legislature to pass an income tax. Since sales and property taxes are the only types available, that’s what we have to do whenever we need roads, schools, fire departments (which is basically all the time).

  • Ray November 3, 2015 (10:36 pm)

    And the “honest election” garbage passes. What a great way for the city to squander its property taxing authority on something so stupid, when the constant raises should be used for something that benefits us all like schools, roads, infrastructure.

    Also, given the “top two” rule for WA politics, this is basically a free funding mechanism for Democrats in the city of Seattle to fund their campaigns at taxpayer expense. Congrats, Seattle. How very progressive. I hope more people realize and remember this the next election when the city comes back to the property tax trough for some more.

  • Mok November 3, 2015 (10:57 pm)

    How did that even happen? As Seattle, how many transportation projects can we actually think about and say “Yeah, that one went well.” The city made some really bad decisions tonight. Hello, rent increases.

  • Rick Sanchez November 3, 2015 (11:50 pm)

    Ah, the bitter internet commenters are out in force tonight!

    Perhaps you should consider leaving for a town where they don’t do bike lanes and road diets. Say, Houston. Plenty of good old fashioned conservative thinking down there.

    Oh, wait. HOUSTON’S PROPERTY TAX RATE IS 2.94%! SEATTLE’S IS 1.01%! Maybe this isn’t such a kleptocracy after all.

    Come on, people.

  • JanS November 4, 2015 (1:23 am)

    Hello, Rick Sanchez….if one votes, one can bitch when the results don’t go one’s way. Why should anyone have to move? That’s borderline stoopid. One works to make it better next time, esp. when the final decision that people voted in is wrong, and doesn’t end up doing what it was supposed to do.

  • JanS November 4, 2015 (1:24 am)

    The one that I’m simply speechless about is the fact that Eyman’s boondoggle initiative is actually passing…we’ll all pay for that one in the end…we certainly never learn, do we?

  • M November 4, 2015 (5:23 am)

    It’s like the twilight zone in this city. I too like lollipops and unicorns, however, just because it’s on the ballot doesn’t mean that it’s sensible.

  • Fire Ball November 4, 2015 (6:05 am)

    People of Seattle can’t say no…But cry foul when the landlord rise the rent. BTW…Your rent is going up AGAIN!

    Let’s move Seattle…with a road diet. Should be Let’s make traffic worse and put bike lanes where nobody will ever ride a bike.

    The voters approved to maintain Metro transit service level…Metro spent the money on new buses.

    Voter approved sea wall…millions over what they approved.

    I’m not even going to talk about the failed tunnel project.

  • JoB November 4, 2015 (6:13 am)

    what Tim Eyman’s boondoggle passing tells me is that there are too many of us who didn’t turn their ballot in.

  • wsguy November 4, 2015 (6:13 am)

    Instead of leaving how about we simply demand that Seattle actually tells us what they are going to spend the money on so we can hold them accountable. For $930 million Seattle will probably spend $350 million on consultants, $100 million telling us what a great job they are doing, $200 million on lawsuits from the same people that voted for it, $200 million on cost overruns for the 3 blocks of dedicated bike lanes 300 people a year will use and maybe a crosswalk.

  • Wsea November 4, 2015 (6:24 am)

    @Let’sMoveOutofSeattle – you may have read the prop incorrectly. Only $207 million goes to bike and pedestrians which is 22%. Since you don’t walk or bike it will be a waste for you but at least it’s only 22%. Hopefully there will be more walkers via bus service or bikers getting off the road for you.

  • 935 November 4, 2015 (6:30 am)

    No JanS, obviously WE do not.

    Prop 1 passing? The SAME people voted for propping up Metro. How’s that working out for you?

    Brought to you by the same people who conned you into an 80 MILLION dollar broken worm. For a “estimated” 4.25 BILLION (meter is running on that one) lower capacity tunnel, in geologically unstable fill.

    In a city and county where 10 years ago they decided to “end homelessness in 10 years” to the tune of some 75 million dollars (and counting) and the homeless situation continues to skyrocket – as evidenced as nearby as the 1st Ave offramp of the Spokane St viaduct.

    WE (not this poster) continue to think that taxing property is the answer….Well tenants, I hope you have been saving, cause your rents are going up….and don’t you DARE scream about Seattle becoming more unaffordable. YOU are bringing this on yourselves. YOU are responsible for your ever increasing rents. The funny thing is, the majority of you are pricing yourselves out of the “utopia” you so dearly crave.

    Thank GOD for Tim Eymann and the voters outside of this city and county. For they have the insight, recollection and chutzpah to tell the gov’t NO!!

  • Joe Szilagyi November 4, 2015 (6:45 am)

    Election math update:

    .
    *****
    .

    District 1 has 60,991 registered voters.

    .
    As of last night, King County had 17,441 returned ballots for us.

    .
    Last night’s declared results:

    .
    Shannon Braddock
    52.92% – 6,023 votes
    .

    Lisa Herbold
    46.48% – 5,290 votes
    .

    Shannon and Lisa difference: 733 votes, 6.44%.
    .

    Last night declared total ballots on hand/back to County Elections: 11,381 ballots, for an 18.6% return rate. I’ve seen estimates of a 30%
    .

    King County general election voter turnout for general elections since 2000: 61.85%.
    .

    King County general election voter turnout for general elections since 2000 if you only count off and odd-years like this: 48.66%.
    .

    I’ve seen good sources who I trust estimate this year ending up around 36%, so we’ll likely see another 10,500 to 17,800 votes added to last night’s totals.
    .

    Last night’s results are literally only 50% of the outcome!
    .

    *****
    .

    This is NOT over. No one should be declaring victory or conceding defeat, even in there minds and hearts, candidate or supporter. Every day still matters. Commence stress drinking of coffee, beer, wine, bourbon, all of us… we’ll be getting new ballot updates daily.

    .

    Don’t forget… crazy stuff can happen in politics, or not. Just like sports. The NBA’s Dream Team lost in the Olympics. The Boston Red Sox came from 0-3 down to beat the Yankees 4-3 and go on to win the World Series. DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN!
    .

    “It has been four days since the last ballot drop on Friday evening, in which Sawant gained 1,458 votes on incumbent Richard Conlin, winning 58.5% of the new votes tallied. Sawant has gained steadily on Conlin from the original 6,136 vote margin Election Night, and now trails by 1,237 votes. Should last week’s trends hold, Sawant will pass Conlin in either the 4:30 or 8:30 ballot tally releases tonight.”

    .
    http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2013/11/sawant-conlin-race-nears-re-count-territory-check-your-ballot/
    .

    “Oops! One week after 16-year Seattle City Council incumbent Richard Conlin claimed an election night victory with a seemingly invincible 7.5 percent margin, his socialist challenger, Kshama Sawant, stunningly grabbed the lead. When The Stranger went to press Tuesday night, Sawant was narrowly leading Conlin by 41 votes, 49.91 percent to 49.88 percent.”
    .

    http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/kshama-sawant-pushes-ahead-of-conlin/Content?oid=18201682

  • JoB November 4, 2015 (7:29 am)

    thank goodness all the votes aren’t in yet..
    but anyone who thinks their vote doesn’t matter
    should think again

  • TheKing November 4, 2015 (7:35 am)

    Road diets = more congestion. This isn’t string theory. I can study this more for a hundred million give or take a few hundred thousand if the city would like.

  • TheKing November 4, 2015 (7:49 am)

    Dear Washington, I am tired of figuring out how many more hours of my paycheck will be going to the new taxes every year. Sincerely, the overburdened taxpayer.

  • HelperMonkey November 4, 2015 (8:14 am)

    Next election I am going to start an initiative to get Tim Eyman the hell out of politics. He’s a cancer on this state.

  • Scott November 4, 2015 (8:15 am)

    Does anyone have the total amount we are getting taxed on every $1000.00 per our property.

  • Rick Sanchez November 4, 2015 (8:22 am)

    I’m not literally suggesting anyone move Jan, although these threads always fill with people announcing they’re moving away from librul Seattle like they’re Kerry voters from 2004 so disgusted that they’re moving to Canada.

    What I am literally suggesting is that Seattle in actual fact has one of the lowest tax burdens in the country. And that metro’s management, or wsdot’s, have jack squat to do with SDOT. And that all the vengeful ‘landlords’ popping up to declare they’ll be raising rents on their mooching renters because of this both sound like Mitt ranting about the 47% and have a shaky grasp of economics.

  • Let'sMoveOutofSeattle Supporter November 4, 2015 (8:44 am)

    By next election, there is a good chance I will have moved out of Seattle and “they” will get 0% of my paycheck. The city won’t miss me, but if enough people start leaving they will. No, we shouldn’t have to leave, but I am tired of the “improved” Rapid Ride passing my bus stop about three times a week making me late for work. I might get reprimanded/fired for it. That would be a great time to look for work ELSEWHERE.

    If the above comments are a representative slice of those who voted, all the tax hikes shouldn’t pass. So clearly, either not enough of this side of the coin voted, or we commenters don’t represent the majority.

    Thank you Joe S. for you Election Math. It will make me feel better for a day or two.

  • Kathy November 4, 2015 (9:27 am)

    I’m so looking forward to projects like the Lander Street train track overpass and more dedicated Rapid Ride lanes getting done. Thanks, Seattle voters for helping to move Seattle. Now if we could only hire some more bus drivers. Maybe if we hadn’t used that 2 million dollar Metro audit to eliminate their bathroom break times more people would apply for that critical job. It’s kind of hard for a woman bus driver to pee in a cup on the bus.

  • More Tim, Please November 4, 2015 (9:29 am)

    Hey Monkey: The cancer in this state are the current “leaders” who swindle us into writing checks first, with the hope they’ll come up with a viable plan, later. See the “Move Seattle” (oh, the irony)joke that looks likely to pass.

    I can only hope Eyman runs for Seattle Mayor or Governor some day.

  • Wes C. Addle November 4, 2015 (10:50 am)

    @Rick

    I agree with what you’re saying. Raise rents? So say you’re renting out a house worth $500,000. The new taxes would be about $13 per month. So is that all you would raise the rent? What if you have an apartment building worth 2 Million that has 50 units. You’d be raising the rent $1.04 per month per unit. None of these are huge hikes, and most people would be willing to pay these hikes because many if not most renters use public transportation and work downtown.

  • Just Wait November 4, 2015 (11:05 am)

    Wes C Addie – if your math is correct you point out the very important fact that homeowners bear the burden of this levy and subsidize renters (homeowners would pay what, 11 times more than renters). So if renters are the primary supporters of moveseattle then they just achieved a huge redistribution of tax dollars and penalized homeownership. I wonder if that was the intent. Also, that means when homeowners are asked next year to cough up another $100/month for Sound Transit 3, they will again be subsidizing all the new apartment building dwellers in the newly expanded urban villages. It’s as if the Mayor and City council want to force out middle-class homeowners…

    • WSB November 4, 2015 (11:24 am)

      I’ve had to say it before and I’m sorry I have to say it again. Trying to put down people who rent, by them-vs.-us-izing or otherwise – is NOT welcome here. People’s participation in and value to our community has very little to do with whether they own or rent – we have business owners, community group leaders, school volunteers, etc. who rent as well as some who own. And those contributions (among others I don’t even have time to list) are priceless. Debate the merits of the measure, discuss why the hell people are choosing not to vote, quote actual facts if you have some, but renters – of which I was one until age 33 (and only then thanks to affordable house prices, nothing like the ones today) – are your neighbors too. – TR

  • HelperMonkey November 4, 2015 (11:06 am)

    @Moretimplease – you DO realize that Eyman is under investigation by the state attorney general right now, right? Or are you ok with his stealing campaign funds and overall corruption? He would bankrupt this state in no time – like he’s already trying to do. Do your research!

  • Wes C. Addle November 4, 2015 (11:18 am)

    @Just Wait
    Of course homeowners bear the initial burden and then pass that cost along to the renter. The cost is minimal though. It’s like a 6 pack of good beer per month in tax, not a big deal to this renter that has to take the bus. Truth be told, I voted no on this levy only because I think SDOT is inept, not because we don’t need the levy, we desperately need it. I’m on a crammed Admiral bus everyday . . . when it shows up.

  • Chris S November 4, 2015 (12:31 pm)

    Yay, the levy passed! Now we can get 35th and Roxbury repaved.

  • Diane November 4, 2015 (12:55 pm)

    thanks TR for stopping any renter-bashing; really appreciate
    ~
    one thing my current apt landlady and me (as a life-long renter; I’ve lived here 8 yrs) have in common; we both voted NO on Move Seattle; most landlords pass on property tax hikes and tax levies to renters; at least the owner of my apt building is transparent about that fact; my last 3 rent increase letters stated that fact; “sorry, but due to significant property tax increases and many tax levies, we have to raise the rent”; so with this new nearly billion dollar tax levy, most landlords will pass on even more big rent hikes to renters; and thus, force more low income folks out of Seattle
    ~
    and as others have said, will we really get anything for all this money?
    ~
    based on experience of recent past (loss of bus service even after extra $60 car tab; uh, the tunnel; cost overruns on the seawall, etc, etc, etc,), I have no faith in this huge tax levy that doesn’t even promise/guarantee anything

  • chemist November 4, 2015 (1:15 pm)

    Wsea, I think you’re just counting the “safe routes” budget when you say $207 million. As you can see in the “detailed budget”, SDOT pins “bikes and pedestrian” projects in both that and the $420 million “maintenance and repair” category. While all these projects are illustrative and not mandated, it means SDOT could spend from both pools, minus the $20 million that prop 1 did specify must be spent on the lander street overpass.

    http://stb-wp.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/21204516/MoveSeattle9YearSpendingPlanbyCategoryFINAL.pdf

  • timeslid November 4, 2015 (1:30 pm)

    How about an initiative that all counties in the state must get a 1 to 1 ratio of money paid in to the state treasury to money received in services. Fair is fair eastern Washington.

  • chemist November 4, 2015 (1:47 pm)

    oops, read that column incorrectly, the other “bike and pedestrian” projects appear in the $303 million “congestion relief” category rather than the $420 million “maintenance and repair” one.

    Same effect though, voters have been informed that bike and pedestrian projects are in both the $207 and $303 million pools.

    Hopefully they find a way to make it easier to get off the peninsula in all of this, one that’s not subject to draw bridge raising.

  • Born on Alki 59 November 4, 2015 (2:03 pm)

    Diane, you are correct, this levy guarantees nothing. The only part of ” Move Seattle” likely to move is the mayors lips and long time blue collar residents.

  • WSEA November 4, 2015 (2:16 pm)

    @chemist – Thanks for the update. Your link has a much better breakdown than the information i’ve seen in the voter sheet and news links.

    Regardless, bike & ped “specific areas” in both sections still only make up 20%. There are many gray areas which is a bit of concern.

    FYI.. I did not vote for the prop due to the lack of information. Which in retrospect, I was correct. Too many questions and answers.

  • Debra November 4, 2015 (5:11 pm)

    Folks keep talking about increasing rents to pay for the increase, hmm those of us who are fixed income and elderly it means hard choices between essentials like medication, food etc and paying the crippling proptery tax
    And what are we suppose to do, no increase in social security there is a group of people that are being forgotten with these horrific increases,
    Many of your neighbors ca not afford this

  • Kathy November 4, 2015 (5:20 pm)

    Woohoo, looks like Eyman’s initiative 1366 lead reversed in the latest count – 58.68% against.

  • Kathy November 4, 2015 (6:17 pm)

    Oops, my bad, just wishful thinking.

  • TheKing November 4, 2015 (6:52 pm)

    I can see landlords raising the rents, the comments like “it’s only going to raise the cost about xx$”. Fine, just dig a huge hole in the yard, add some bike racks to the side of the house and quadruple the price of rent. That’s what it feels like is happening in our city. Hold the renters hostage or run them out. It’s ok to get jacked on taxes but people cry when landlords talk about raising rent? Wow.

  • seattle can't say no November 4, 2015 (7:34 pm)

    Let’s move Seattle… in the wrong direction….
    If you want to move traffic, widen the roads and make more lanes for cars.

  • seattle can't say no November 4, 2015 (8:31 pm)

    Seattle, your new tax rate based on voter approved levies…
    $9.27 per $1,000 in assessed value. $347 per month based on a $450k home.

  • HelperMonkey November 5, 2015 (8:25 am)

    @seattlecantsayno – that’s $347 per YEAR. Not month. Unless you’re trying to be purposefully obtuse to fan the flames?

  • Born on Alki 59 November 5, 2015 (10:00 am)

    The average annual property tax bill on a $450K home in Seattle will now be about $5K. Source: KIRO

  • Debra November 5, 2015 (11:41 am)

    Born on Alki
    That would be $900 a year incrase for my modest little home.
    This would force me to move since fixed income does not allow that kind of increase. While my house has appreciated it does not generate cash
    I don’t know if the city actually understands what they have done to many of us who will have to make very diffiult choices to stay in our home and eliminate other vital needs

  • Born on Alki 59 November 5, 2015 (1:55 pm)

    Debra,
    The local news sources (take that for what it’s worth) estimate the annual property taxes to increase $500-$800 for the average Seattle home owner. (assuming all 2015 Seattle levies pass)
    Yeah, that’s a heck of an increase….with many, many more proposed. Then there’s the tunnel (WADOT) and seawall projects to consider. Both substantially over budget and behind schedule. Wait until those invoice’s hit the State and City accounts payables offices.
    I have little faith our City government will do anything to actually help “Move Seattle” with that new billion dollar blank check. It will likely barely cover their previous blunders….like a fleet of Czech streetcars that don’t work or projects never started by the Bridging the Gap levy. Meanwhile our road infrastructure is crumbling and only getting worse. But we DO have shiny rainbow sidewalks and red bus lanes! Yeah.
    Sorry…Rant Over.

  • Just Wait November 6, 2015 (6:16 am)

    Debra, Diane, and Alki 59. So true! Blank checks and broken “illustrative” promises, and don’t forget all the road diets and bike lanes (because they allegedly will reduce congestion). BTG was to build Lander overpass, but the city changed the metrics and deliverables a year after voters passed that levy. Move Seattle only allocated $20 million for the Lander Overpass but anticipates that project will cost at least $180 million. They’re counting on additional funds for these projects (from feds, the state, taxpayers). Move Seattle ultimately will not build the Lander Bridge, that was just advertised by Kubly to get more people to vote for it. Next year is the big ask from them for Sound Transit 3, which may or may not bring light rail to West Seattle, but most definitely will add significant property tax increases (previously estimated at another $80+/month).

  • au November 6, 2015 (8:26 am)

    We have levies that tax property owners and we have a large amount of new properties that are property tax exempt. So the burden of needed infrastructure falls on those who are already established here while those that are creating this need get exempt from paying for it. This isn’t working.

Sorry, comment time is over.