Thank you, King County!

BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON – Following the release of the initial election results in the 2022 midterm elections, the Yes on King County Charter Amendment 1 campaign offered its profound thanks to the people of King County for embracing the coalition’s proposal to move elections for twelve key county positions from odd years to even years, when turnout is higher and more diverse.

While many ballots remain to be counted, the first returns are incredibly strong for the Yes side, with 69%+ voting yes so far.

These results indicate that King County Charter Amendment 1 will pass, which means that beginning in 2026, King County voters will see elections for Council, Assessor, and Elections Director on an even-year ballot. In 2028, the first even-year election for Executive and five additional Council positions will be held. Data indicates that turnout for these important positions could as much as double as a result of making the switch.

Sponsored by King County Chair Claudia Balducci, Charter Amendment 1 was submitted to the voters of King County this past summer on a 7-2 vote.

No organized opposition formed against the measure, which was endorsed by The Seattle Times, The Stranger, and The Urbanist in addition to the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County, the Northwest Progressive Institute, More Equitable Democracy, Washington Community Alliance, Win/Win Network, the Washington Bus, the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Sightline Institute, Transit Riders Union, Seattle Pride, Washington For Equitable Representation, OneAmerica Votes, and the King County Democrats.

“Thanks to the voters, in the future more people will vote for their King County representatives and our electorate will better reflect all the people of our County,” said King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci. “I’m proud that King County continues to show how you create strong and resilient elections.”

“This is a huge win for King County!” said King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay.

“With one relatively small change to when we vote, we have strengthened our democracy multiple times over and given thousands more people a voice in our region’s local politics.”

“Our campaign is incredibly grateful to see so much support from voters for this effort to simplify our elections and strengthen our democracy,” said Northwest Progressive Institute founder Andrew Villeneuve, co-chair of the Yes on King County Charter Amendment 1 committee.

“Studies have repeatedly shown that aligning the timing of local elections with state and federal elections does more for raising and diversifying turnout than any other electoral reform we can adopt. It’s the norm in Washington for counties to hold their elections in even-numbered years. With the success of King County Charter Amendment 1, we’ll soon be joining thirty-six other counties in electing our county’s executive and legislative positions at times when most voters consistently turn out, which will raise the visibility of county government and ensure far more voters are participating in the selection of their elected representatives.”

Letter to the editor: Katie Stultz on the case for King County Charter Amendment 1

In a letter to the editor, Win/Win’s Katie Stultz explains why King County would benefit from the passage of Charter Amendment 1:

As a lifelong resident of King County, I want to share an opportunity to make our elections system more representative, accessible, and a stronger Democracy for us all. This election you will have the opportunity to vote yes on King County Charter Amendment 1 to move the highest races in King County to even-year elections; including King County Executive, Assessor, Elections Director, and County Council.

I have been organizing in King County for most of my career with the Washington Bus, and now as the Senior Political Manager for Win|Win Network. Win|Win Network works to support organizations working for a stronger democracy by taking a data-driven approach to finding solutions. According to voter participation data in King County moving to even-year elections, would more than double and even triple participation among working class voters, young voters, and voters of color. For example; young voters ages 18 -35 turned out at 15.2% in 2019 and 63.3% in 2020; a 316% increase, and Asian, Latino and Black voters participated at an average of 20.4% in 2019, and 67.6% in the 2020 general election.

Even-year elections will increase voter participation, diversify the electorate, and empower new and diverse candidates to run for office.

A Democracy where more voters participate is a stronger Democracy for us all. Vote Yes on Charter Amendment 1 on your ballot before Nov. 8th for a stronger and more representative democracy. For more information on how to support this measure go to yeskingcharter1.org.

Katie Stultz, Kent

Our thanks to Katie for making a great pitch for this empowering electoral reform so succinctly!

Watch LWV’s ballot drop week forum on even year elections and ranked choice voting

Courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County, here’s a virtual forum you can watch on demand featuring election and voting experts discussing even year elections and ranked choice voting. LWV’s goal with this forum is to increase the public’s understanding of the measures, answer your questions, and explain why the LWVSKC has endorsed them.

The Stranger endorses King County Charter Amendment 1

Another day, another editorial for KCCA1!

We’re very pleased to have the support of The Stranger for this worthy election reform.

Here’s an excerpt from their endorsement:

Elections officials do so much to increase turnout by a bit here and bit more there, but, as it turns out, simply holding elections on years when everyone’s talking about elections can expand the electorate by a ton, amplifying the voices of young people, people of color, people with low incomes, and other “low-propensity” voters. 

Expanding the electorate is good because it will encourage elected officials to listen to people they usually don’t need to listen to in order to win under the current rules. 

You can read the full editorial here.

Vote Yes on King County Charter Amendment 1 by November 8th.

The Urbanist endorses King County Charter Amendment 1

The campaign for King County Charter Amendment 1 is pleased to have received the support of The Urbanist, a Seattle-based nonprofit providing daily news coverage and opinion in the advocacy journalism tradition along with social and educational events:

Moving local elections to even years would have a huge impact on voter turnout, roughly doubling the electorate based on recent voting patterns. Because our federal officials are elected in even years, turnout is much higher in those years, especially in presidential years. This difference would be particularly pronounced among young people, and Black, Indigenous, and communities of color, which are groups that have very low turnout in odd years. In effect, this is a way to have the most representative democracy possible.

— Excerpt from the recommendation

Read the full endorsement here.

Yes on KCCA1 kicks off ballot drop week with media event

Yes on KCCA1 kicks off ballot drop week with media event

This week, King County Elections is mailing out nearly 1.4 million ballots to registered voters across the county. Our campaign held a media event in Renton to kick off Ballot Drop Week and urge people to vote “Yes” on King County Charter Amendment 1. Watch it here:

Speakers:

  • Andrew Villeneuve, Northwest Progressive Institute
  • Paul Charbonneau, Newcastle City Councilmember
  • Jazmine Smith, The Washington Bus
  • Jude Ahmed, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle

Seattle Times endorses King County Charter Amendment 1

Our campaign is pleased to have received the endorsement of The Seattle Times!

This morning, The Times published an editorial declaring that Charter Amendment 1 “makes sense” and “has merit.”

“The possible benefits outweigh the potential costs,” the board concluded.

“Almost without a doubt, moving King County races to even years will increase voter participation. But King County officials should not slide down the rabbit hole of other, more dubious election-reform measures or neglect town halls, debates and other community events that generate public interest in their campaigns and activities.”

“Voters should approve King County Charter Amendment 1.”

You can read the full endorsement here.

Fuse Progressive Voters Guide urges a Yes vote on KCCA1

The Yes on King County Charter Amendment 1 campaign thanks Fuse and the Progressive Voters Guide for urging a yes vote on our proposal to move King County to even-year elections:

King County Charter Amendment 1 proposes Ordinance 2022–0180, which pertains to when county elections appear on the ballot. The ordinance is supported by a progressive coalition of local organizations and passed the King County Council by a 7-2 margin, with only the two most conservative council members in opposition.

If ratified, the ordinance will shift the elections for the county executive, assessor, elections director, and council positions to even-numbered years. By making this change, local leaders will be chosen during high-turnout years, increasing voter participation and reaching a wider, more diverse group for local positions.

Vote “Yes” to on Amendment 1 to the King County Charter to strengthen our democracy and give more voters a voice in our county government.

Join us in voting Yes on KCCA1 by November 8th!