Seattle P-I: Result on Ref. 71 might not come for 'days'

[Newsjock]

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/184032.asp

Josh Friedes, manager of the campaign to approve Referendum 71, said at the group's Capitol Hill election night party that it is "unlikely" a vote on the domestic partner law would be called tonight.

"We've tried to prepare voters for the very real possibility that it will be days before we know the election's outcome," Friedes said as supporters began to arrive to the event at Pravda Studios on 10th Street.

"I think we will feel good today if we are leading, or losing by a small margin with a surge still to come in from King County."

Only 23.4 percent of the 376,949 ballots King County mailed to Seattle voters had been returned Monday night, meaning many Seattle voters waited until the last minute to vote -- if they voted at all.

"If turnout is low for this particular initiative, I think that would be troubling," said Alison Peters, who did focus group testing for the campaign.

[Hawkeye-X]

1. For those who don't live in WA state

Can you tell us what Ref. 71 is about?

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Domestic partnership bill (nicknamed "everything BUT marriage")

It was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Gregoire into law earlier this year. "Yes" is a vote to keep it. "No" is a vote to dump it.

http://approvereferendum71.org/

Oddly enough, it was the haters who collected signatures for something they wanted to vote against which is the opposite of what usually happens.

[Sebastian Doyle]

2. The one drawback to the all-mail in election.

One possible negative for King County though - the wingnuts will be out in force to vote for that Palinesque twit Susan Hutchinson, and probably for Eyman's latest piece of shit too. So let's hope it does NOT come down to losing by a small margin, depending on King County. :scared:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. But isn't that area pretty politically active? Very progressive?

[Sebastian Doyle]

10. Seattle is. Eastern end of the county, not so much

The pig Dino Rossi (who tried to steal the governor's race in 2004) was from that area, and that's also where the 8th congressional district (unfortuantely reliably Repuke) is located.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

11. Are you from King County? My boss is Ron Sims, the Deputy Secretary of HUD.

He is so awesome! Very progressive. I'll be in Seattle in February!!

[Sebastian Doyle]

12. Ron Sims is a good guy

I'm actually from Olympia, but I met Ron back in the 90's when he was running for the senate against that fucking tool Slade Gorton (unfortunately he didn't win that one)

[SeattleGirl]

9. Hutchinson is currently losing to Constantine 57-43

I'm liking those numbers.

I don't like how close R 71 is, but at least the yea's are ahead 52-48. The early count had it down 60-40.

[Missy Vixen]

14. The wingnuts sure aren't helping Hutchinson

She's getting her ass kicked.

Couldn't happen to a nicer woman.

:eyes:

[gblady]

4. early results on state site....

about 898,000 votes counted

Eynman bill 43.88% yes, 56.12% no
Ref 71 51.95% yes, 48.05% no

[Madrone]

5. I didn't mail mine in until today.

Proud to cancel out the vote of some fundie nutter over on the east side of the mountain!

I'm encouraged to see the yes votes are leading at this time.

http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/WEI/Results.aspx?RaceTypeCode=M&JurisdictionTypeID=-2&ElectionID=32&ViewMode=Results

[Oeditpus Rex]

6. Results here:

http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/WEI/Results.aspx?RaceTypeCode=M&JurisdictionTypeID=-2&ElectionID=32&ViewMode=Results

71 is ahead 51.82 - 48.18 at last report with 917,505 ballots counted and an estimated 332,665 remaining to be counted.

[GOPisEvil]

8. Pierce County will be very interesting.

It is not vote-by-mail, so their results may take some time, and it's more conservative than King County for sure.

[juno jones]

13. North of Seattle here.

I voted to keep it.

It was my main reason for voting this cycle and when they deliver the ballot to your door, it's a lot easier than finding the time to go to the polls.