The Secretary of State's link to statewide ballot measures is here. In early returns, a whopping 62 percent of King County voters have weighed in AGAINST Initiative 912 - to repeal the 9.5 cent a gallon gas tax hike approved last spring by the legislature primarily for road construction and safety projects. Similarly, Snohomish county voters are so far rejecting the gas tax hike repeal by a margin of 54.8 percent to 45.1 percent. Overall, at (8:43) the updated results are 51 percent for, and 48 percent against I-912. Spokane County's early returns are coming in, for 912, but Pierce, and either Kitsap or Clark could conceivably seal the deal against the measure. Obviously, it's really early in the evening, but if (traditionally more conservative and tax-averse) absentee voters in King and Snohomish are supporting retention of the gas tax by such broad margins already, that may be telling us something. County-by-county I-912 tallies and map here, being updated frequently.
UPDATE, 8:57 P.M.: Early returns from Kitsap and Walla Walla counties are in, AGAINST 912 in those counties, and the "No" votes have just pulled ahead, by less than one percent.
UPDATE, 9:02 P.M.: Pierce County returns coming in, "Yes" votes currently less than two-tenths of a percentage point ahead. Hmmmn. The "Yes" folks need Pierce, badly, and not just by a hair, either. Overall, it's 50.8 percent AGAINST, 49.1 percent FOR. Numbers to change soon, doubtless.
UPDATE: 9:18 P.M.: Clark County coming in just a hair against I-912 so far. We're seeing a pattern here, urban counties are going neck-and-neck on the ballot measure, or, in some cases, against it, based on admittedly incomplete returns. Gonna be an interesting night. Hey! Recount, anyone?
UPDATE, 9:30 P.M.: 50.5 percent against, 49.5 percent for. King and Snohomish numbers haven't changed since posting, perhaps indicating they are preliminary finals. Only Whatcom and Lincoln showing no results yet. Thurston coming in against I-912 so far, by 11 percent.
UPDATE, 10:05 P.M.: Margin against now slightly wider, at 1.3 percent, and 10,574 votes. Only Lincoln County reporting no results. Things could change, but I think we're looking at a defeat of I-912.
UPDATE, 10:20 P.M.: Additional votes coming in from King and Snohomish, among other places, and the "No" margin has grown from 1.3 percent to 2.9 percent, and from 10,574 votes to 28,058. 10:33 P.M.: Q13-TV just called I-912 "50-50" and "a dead heat." D'oh.
UPDATE, 11:05 P.M.: IT'S DONE, for all intents and purposes. I-912 has been defeated. As more votes are reported, the "No" vote margin has widened yet again, to 51,805 votes at this moment, and nearly five percent.
12:40 A.M., Nov. 9: "Urban Strongholds Successfully Keep Gas Tax," Seattle P-I.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at November 08, 2005 08:48 PM | Email ThisI'm not sure if the other counties are using the same schedule for counting...
Posted by: Deborah on November 8, 2005 08:54 PMARGH! Stuck at 14% for a half an hour...
http://www.metrokc.gov/elections/2005Nov/resPage2.htm
Posted by: Mike on November 8, 2005 08:59 PMThey didn't like the results, so they're changing them.
Posted by: VaCSProf on November 8, 2005 09:02 PMhttp://www.metrokc.gov/elections/2005Nov/resultsSchedule.htm
There was one update at 8.15p and the next one would be after 9p. This is their normal schedule, much like other counties. No, it's not a conspiracy.
Posted by: aep on November 8, 2005 09:10 PMSheesh. What a county.
Posted by: Renee on November 8, 2005 09:16 PMPolitical Calculations is also tracking the King County Executive race.
Posted by: Ironman on November 8, 2005 09:20 PMOh darn, I almost forgot - we have a LAME Secretary of State !
Posted by: KS on November 8, 2005 09:22 PMToo bad, tsk...
Posted by: Gadfly on November 8, 2005 09:25 PMResults on I-912:
Yes 20,669 44.9%
No 25,361 55.1%
It's the standard M.O. of the Left in this state.
Posted by: Chad on November 8, 2005 09:31 PMNow I'm even more convinced the majority of people who inhabit this county are damned fools.
(And no, it's not you. Everything sure seems backwards to me.)
Posted by: Renee on November 8, 2005 09:35 PMHow stupid is that to think all of our roads and bridges are on the brink of collapse and that the next "big one" is a reason to raise already high taxes. Stuck on stupid, no doubt!
Posted by: SP Fan on November 8, 2005 09:41 PM1. I voted for 912 not because of the small amount of money to be "saved", but to send a message to Olympia that this is not how to conduct biz and government. The voters had clearly stated what they wanted, and Queen Chris and her entourage overrode the will of the voters with the silly emergency clause.
On top of that, the road construction bill/project list is bogus and nothing will happen.
2. Most people who voted against 912 have most likely been duped by the advertising and messaging that voting for 912 will make all road projects stop and cause gridlock. etc.
3. Most of those people also expect that the gas tax will magically solve the congestion and will create the solution people are looking for.
4. So, as those people will be severly dissappointed as nothing will happen over the next 2 years....I predict (and certainly hope for) a severe backlash against the leadership in Olympia and KC in the next election.
And that is good !!!
Posted by: FG on November 8, 2005 09:42 PMI remember people predicting a severe backlash in this election.
Posted by: ScottM on November 8, 2005 09:51 PMI vote at Rainier High School and for the first time in 14 years I had to wait in line in order to vote.
Posted by: seePea on November 8, 2005 09:59 PMI-912:
YES 34,112 57 %
NO 26,108 43 %
(And in the race for City Council Dist. 3, first-time candidate and good conservative Nancy McLaughlin thumped liberal former Councilman Steve Corker 63%-37%.)
Posted by: ScottM on November 8, 2005 10:09 PMNo...
If you go to the State of Washington election site and clock on a particular initiative - it will show you the breakdown by county of the *for's* and *against*... I 912 is passing in almost every county! Problem is - fraudulent King County makes the state's election outcome...
Don't blame the people of the State...Blame Ron Sims. Liberal socialist Democrats have made it into the highest positions in the 3 largest counties in the state.....They control the vote counts.. We will never see another honest election again unless the Federal Government intervenes..
YES 51,948 55 %
NO 41,962 45 %
Yes 48.23%
No 51.77%
"39 out of 39 counties have reported which is an accumulative of 100% of all counties."
I-900 has passed.
I-901 has passed.
I-912 has failed.
I-330 has failed
I-336 has failed.
Senate Joint Resolution 8207 has passed.
http://vote.wa.gov/election/2005/general/measures.aspx
Posted by: Nick J. on November 8, 2005 10:35 PMTake Kent for instance...at 10:15 :
CITY OF KENT
Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 5247/34772 15.09%
Precincts Counted/Total Precincts: 8/82 9.76%
But let's look at Seattle's count at 10:15:
CITY OF SEATTLE
Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 70631 / 349835 20.19%
Precincts Counted/Total Precincts: 435 / 995 43.72%
Could King County be cherry picking it's vote count to make it appear that some candidates and initiatives are ahead?..(so they can do their dirty work over night and no one would know the difference...)
This seems odd to me..
Posted by: Deborah on November 8, 2005 10:36 PMThose aren't final results. Most counties won't be reporting their final numbers until tomorrow or even Thursday. Spokane won't be reporting again tonight. King, Pierce and Snohomish will, but I don't expect them to be done with counting either. I feel comfortable calling 900, 901, and SJR 8207 since it's clear that they'll all pass, and 336, which will obviously fail. 912 and 330 are both still a toss up, but trending toward failure.
Posted by: Nathan Azinger on November 8, 2005 10:43 PMDeboarah? Brent? Mr. Cynical? What happened?
Posted by: AmazedByRightWingHate on November 8, 2005 10:44 PMWonder if a recount can repeal the gas tax? :)
Posted by: Rancid on November 8, 2005 10:54 PMWhat a horrible night for Republicans.
We lost in VA and NJ. We probably aren't going to repeal the gas tax here. Arnold's taking a beating.
Wake me up from this nightmare.
Geez.
Posted by: Nick J. on November 8, 2005 10:58 PM1) Recall effort on Sims
2) Cascade County, Washington.
Do it.
Posted by: Sailor Republica on November 8, 2005 10:59 PMIt's too early to be sure, but it sure looks like sanity prevailed in spite of it being a measure that reduced taxes. Maybe Katrina taught just enough folks the meaning of penny-wise and pound-foolish.
You can talk all you want to about King County, but defeating this crock from Carlson & Wilbur, if it holds up depends just as much on the closer than expected results in the rest of the state. Only four counties right now have 60% or more yes votes.
Posted by: WW on November 8, 2005 11:00 PME. Washington would have been cut free by the blue parts of the state that generate the revenues they enjoy feeding off.
The State GOP would have been punished by Big Business, Inc. which bankrolls their silly exploits....and which bankrolled the anti-912 campaign.
You silly kids actually dodged a bullet tonight.
Although, sometimes I get the idea Stefan and his flock 'o sheep are on some kind of political suicide mission.
So maybe not.
Posted by: AmazedByRightWingHate on November 8, 2005 11:05 PMAs you keep giving the left more and more control of us all, soon the only choice left will be to slaughter our unborn children.
Posted by: DakotaRed on November 8, 2005 11:07 PMBananIguana: still running away from all those mean girls on the playground? Never thought you would make a career/obsession out of being scared of girls and women, did you?
You do make for a fine Republican, though.
Posted by: AmazedByRightWingHate on November 8, 2005 11:12 PMNick J.,
It's not a horrible night for Republicans.
We won in Ohio. Big time. Virginia's Mr. Kaine has to deal with a Republican Lt. Governor and Attorney General.
Don't believe the spin the media is hyping right now.
Did you realize No on I-912 had 2.9 million dollars vs. $500,000 on the Yes side. I'd say YES on I-912 did a damn fine job sending the message to Mrs. Gregoire.
I knew 912 was in trouble a week ago when I got a really nice color brochure from "Mainstream Republicans of Washington" based out of Kennewick saying "912 cancels the plan. Vote NO on 912. Canceled: safety improvements that will save lives. Canceled: road improvements across Washington that will reduce congestion."
So you see, Nick J., people believed this sh** and voted no. They got scared.
And that's too bad, because they will find out, the roads that are unsafe will remain unsafe, and the congested roads that drive people crazy, will remain congested.
* 22,000 babies are dismembered in our state per annum without ceremony or anesthesia each year. Supported by the Left.
* Seattle people generally live for themselves, everyone else be damned. Sanctioned by the Left.
* Fellow human beings are regarded by the Left as surplus population, not as people.
* Meanwhile, animals and trees carry a higher status than people.
* Those who dare to dissent are silenced.
That, is HATE.
Posted by: AmazedByLeftWingHate on November 8, 2005 11:38 PMYOU can try to spin it whatever way you want, but overall, it was a horrible night for us.
You have to admit that.
No repeal of the gas tax, no Irons, Arnold's props in Cali are all losing, we lost in VA and NJ.
You can't really spin that.
Posted by: Nick J. on November 9, 2005 12:01 AMSure , Eastern Washington will also have its hydropower from the Columbia too. I guess you better get used to living in the dark.
Posted by: pbj on November 9, 2005 12:29 AMClark County, Washington
General Election, November 8, 2005 -- Unofficial Final
Last Updated: November 8, 2005 8:48PM
County-wide Turnout Statistics
Precincts Reporting: 179 100.00%
Total Precincts: 179
Total Ballots Cast: 71,889 37.07%
Total Eligible Voters: 193,906 http://www.clark.wa.gov/elections/results/2005/2005GeneralElectionResults.html
It makes me wonder how they declared a final result off of mail in only ballots when they need be post marked today and all cannot possibly all be in, much less counted by 8 PM.
Unawareness of legislative arrogance of the highest order.
Unawareness of tax/benefit ratios relative to other states.
And so many other factors. This was far less about a gas tax and much more about whether we live in an accountable democracy.
This day marks a point where urbanites were sold that their self-interest lay in something that utterly contradicts *everyone's* self-interest. Except that of the ongoing bureacracy.
Disgusting idiocy. Citizens should know better.
Posted by: Kristan on November 9, 2005 01:16 AMNot so much unawareness, instead IGNORANCE!
And, you're right, citizens should know better.
And Matt Brooks - have fun in Alaska, land of the massively subsidized "boot strap" Republican. I'll say "hi" to you from the deck of the cruise ship.
And cc, you cited a 'win' in Ohio. Maybe you were talking about this one?
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051108/CINCI/51108051
"COLUMBUS – From bridge repairs to genetics research at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, passage of state Issue 1 should revitalize the local economy, according to proponents.
Ohio voters easily approved the ambitious $2 billion ballot measure Tuesday, based on unofficial election returns.
More than half the cost of the “Jobs for Ohio’’ bond issue is for bridge, road and other traditional infrastructure projects financed by the Ohio Public Works Commission.
Right to Life groups from Cincinnati and Warren County joined the Christian Coalition in opposing Issue 1, fearing taxpayer money will be used to finance embryonic stem cell research."
Sounds like a 'win' to me.
R-E-P-U-B-L-I-C-A-N
Posted by: Smoking in the Boys' Room on November 9, 2005 04:50 AMCorzine says this corruption has to stop and the People of New Jersey voted!
Stephanopolous says the surprise is margin of victory in Virginia for dems and that will have national implications. ohhh I'm so scared. What noone is telling about the Virginia race is he has a Republican Lt. Governor and a Republican Attorney General. Hardly a huge win there.
Arnold is in deep trouble. The voters handed his head to him last night.
They are smacking their lip, over mid-terms next year, and especially 3 years from now.
Oh man, I just can't wait...
Oh well, you win some, you lose some.
Seriously, let's talk... Cascade County and The State of Eastern Washington.
I don't expect traffic to improve, since this tax increase was about "safety", not congestion. Face it, with all of the construction that will be going on, there will be even more congestion.
Instead of a viaduct tunnel, why not apply the extra LIMITED tax dollars to an I-5 tunnel to bypass the convention center - that would improve traffic congestion through Seattle.
Posted by: SouthernRoots on November 9, 2005 08:13 AM
Please do. People leaving will help with congestion reduction. Really you guys, is the 9.5 cents going to kill you??
I think 912 failing along with 900 passing is going to result in some real improvements.
The fact of the matter is that our transportation system is a mess. Saying No all the time isn't going to help matters.
This suburban vs. urban debate is really tiring. Try as they might, Carlson and Wilbur were unable to drive a big enough wedge between the two. Transportation is a REGIONAL problem - whether you drive to the city or not, many of us in the suburbs have to - that is where the jobs are, but we cannot afford to live there.
Projects like the work being done @ I-5 and 320th in Federal Way WILL provide congestion relief and will benefit everyone.
This is why I am so opposed to things like the monorail and tolls - they do not take into account regional needs and the fact that all road improvements typically benefit the economy as a whole.
We elect people to make decisions - if you are unhappy with those decisions, vote the bastards out! Initiatives are getting really old.
Posted by: Eric on November 9, 2005 08:34 AMEric, do you remember when Gregoire said she wouldn't raise taxes? I seem to recall she was 'elected', and that was one of the things she had as part of her platform. Almost immediately after being 'elected', she and the legislature raised taxes....
Initiatives are a good thing, when people we 'elect' say one thing, and do another...
Posted by: Chad on November 9, 2005 09:26 AMI wonder how long the legislature will allow I-900 to stand. Will the legislature actually act on the results of the audits?
Posted by: SouthernRoots on November 9, 2005 09:36 AMso you voted for gregoire based on that claim?
I agree in principle, but I personally feel that gas tax is about the only fair tax there is.
Drive more = pay more
Drive a gas hog = pay more
Ride Transit = pay less
Using 912 as a referendum on Gregoire was misguided and Carlson, et al. dropped that angle pretty early on in the campaign.
There is only 3 more years until the true referendum on her "election". Hopefully, the GOP can get it's shit together by then.
Posted by: Eric on November 9, 2005 09:58 AM520 commuters should not pay tolls. Highway infrastructure is a regional asset and should be paid for by the region - not just the drivers.
If they do toll it - and I am sure they will - bike riders SHOULD pay. But you and I both know that won't happen. Life is unfair like that sometimes.
I have a hard time accepting that only drivers on 520 should pay for it - what about all the people that take I-90 and benefit from there being a bridge a little further north. Imagine the I-90 commute without 520. That is why I think that these projects should be paid for regionally.
As for the MVET - c'mon! I pay something like $140 on a $24000 car. Totally reasonable. Would you prefer we go back to the days of $400 tabs?
This is coming from someone who telecommutes, so I personally have no use for highways or transit. I do believe that they benefit the region's economy and without them, I probably would not have a job. So I am OK paying for them.
Posted by: Eric on November 9, 2005 10:18 AMI think it is safe to say that a number of republicans also voted against 912 with me.
I do not think crippling progress through initiatives is wise - rather - as I have stated before, we must elect responsible leaders who will represent our desires and allow them to do the jobs they are elected to do.
King County will always be a liberal stronghold, so we must focus on the State and Federal governments.
I think Sims was vulnerable this year - it was probably our best shot. However, I think Irons ran a rather weak campaign (the only contact I had with this was the three automated calls to me on election day - I didn't see very many ads or mailers). Face it, the party blew their opportunity for KC Exec.
Rebel sez: " I may never bother to vote again as I don't think it matters."
Now there is a gauranteed way to make your vote not count.
Posted by: Eric on November 9, 2005 11:58 AMPeople who disagree with you politically are not 'brainwashed' or something like that. The problem with political discourse in this country/state is that it's au courant to literally HATE someone with a differing ideology. That mentality stifles progress and only serves those in power by maintaining the status quo. I'm not a commie. You're not a fascist. Here's a crazy thought: Both sides have some good ideas. It's not smart to accept either party's position on all issues as a matter of principle. It's actually quite stupid. As is the notion that the only way for change is revolution. Creep City population You.
PS It's not a conspiracy when your side doesn't win. Gregoire is the rightful Governor same as Bush is the rightful president. It is what it is.
Posted by: WCB on November 9, 2005 01:00 PMEric: What responsible people? They always tell us one thing to get elected, then do another, and we still have to see if they will do something to neuter performance audits. That was the whole point about I 912. There is no accountability and no resonable work being done on the roads to relieve congestion. We were left with nothing but the initiative process. God, don't you pay attention? This is not hard. It has become us against them. Us is the taxpayer. Them is the professional (scumbags mostly) politicians and beurocrats that make their living on our taxes. It is'nt asking too much to require the most for our money.
Posted by: REBEL on November 9, 2005 04:58 PM