Vote-by-mail authorized for February special election

Council grants exceptions to conditions it set for implementation

The February special election will become the first countywide election in King County to be conducted entirely by mail, following action today by the Metropolitan King County Council to grant exceptions to conditions it set two years ago for implementation.

“I am pleased to see King County taking this important step in the transition to a vote-by-mail elections system,” said Council Vice-Chair Dow Constantine. “The February special election to choose a King County Elections Director—one that would normally produce a low turnout—should provide an excellent opportunity to test the systems that our staff has spent months putting into place.”

Councilmembers today unanimously approved a motion directing the King County Elections Division to proceed with an all-mail ballot for the special election on February 3, 2009, despite a continuing vacancy in the office of Superintendent of Elections.

The Council in 2006 adopted an ordinance making King County the largest local jurisdiction in the nation to conduct all elections by mail, subject to the fulfillment of several requirements. One of those requirements has yet to be met: the appointment of a new Superintendent of Elections. Despite a targeted national search, recruitment for the position has been hampered by uncertainty over whether the position of Elections Director would become an elective position and, if so, who would win the office.

On the February special election ballot are the first election for the office of King County Director of Elections, creation of a Fall City Metropolitan Park District and election of five commissioners, and a school levy in Enumclaw.