Turnout hits 35 percent in Bainbridge election

Published 12:31 pm Friday, February 5, 2016

Turnout on Bainbridge Island for the Feb. 9 Special Election has surpassed 35 percent heading into the final weekend before next Tuesday’s election, according to the Kitsap County Elections Division.

A total of 17,802 ballots were issued to voters on Bainbridge, according to county election officials.

As of Thursday afternoon, a total of 6,343 ballots have been returned for counting.

Bainbridge voters have just one thing on the ballot: Proposition 1, an $81.2 million bond measure to replace Blakely Elementary School and the BHS 100 Building. The proposed 20-year bond sale will also fund other improvements in district facilities.

A supermajority is needed for Prop. 1 to pass. State law requires 60 percent voter approval to pass school capital bond ballot measures.

If approved, local school taxes in 2017 would increase an estimated 36 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value (or $15 per month for the median property value of $486,000).

Enough ballots have already been submitted to meet the validation requirement of Prop. 1. According to county election officials, the measure needs 3,932 votes submitted to be valid.

Ballots will be accepted through 8 p.m. on Election Day.