Pasco, Richland fall short on voter turnout, other schools pass bonds

Special election results have been posted but with strict guidelines, Richland and Pasco's bonds may not pass.

Bond elections require a super majority of more than 60% approval to pass, unlike levies which only require a simple majority. Each school district also requires a voter turnout equal or exceeding 40% of the number of voters who voted in the November general election.

Currently, Richland's bond looks to have fallen short due to a low voter turnout. Pasco's bond only reached 54% of voters in support missing the super majority mark. However, bonds in Finley, Prosser and Grandview all passed.

Franklin County

Pasco School District's bond reached only 54% or 4,086 voters in support of the bond, falling short of the needed 60% majority. 45% or 3,413 voted in opposition to the ballot. In order to be validated the district will need 8,235 votes to be turned in, currently 7,481 ballots have been counted.

Othello School District's replacement levy looks to have passed on the ballot with 63% in support and 36% opposed.

Benton County

Richland School District says currently the bond is passing with 61% in support and 38% against, which hits the super majority of 60%. However, currently the voter turnout is 13,768 and the district needs 14,647 votes to validate the election and pass the bond.

Finley School District's bond looks to have passed with 60% or 500 votes for the bond, and 39% or 333 against the bond.  The school needed 811 votes and it received 833.

Prosser School District's bond passed according to preliminary numbers with 73% in support and 26% against. With 2,714 ballots returned so far for the district.

According to the Grandview School District Facebook page, the district says the bond passed. The district received 55% in favor and 44% opposed. Due to the district asking for a replacement bond which will not increase taxes, the district only needed a simple majority.

Walla Walla County

Columbia School District in Walla Walla County passed a bond with 69% in approval or 592 voters and 30% in opposition or 263 with a total of 855 ballots returned.

The Secretary of State certifies final results on February 27, 2017.