Postmark deadline for school ballots is Tuesday

Supporters of the Renton School District’s $150 million construction bond measure are putting on a final push this weekend to get voters to mail in their ballots.

The envelopes must be postmarked no later than Tuesday in order for the ballot inside to count.

Enough ballots – about 11,400 – had been returned as of mid-week to validate the election. However, based on an analysis of the failed March 11 bond vote, that’s not enough to reach the second requirement -– a 60 percent “yes” vote.

So the message is: Return those ballots.

The mail-in vote – and the change in

the price of a first-class stamp – has confused some voters, according to district spokesman Randy Matheson.

There is no poll voting. Those voters who may have thrown away the mail-in ballot expecting to vote at a poll Tuesday can obtain a ballot at the county elections office at 919 S.W. Grady Way in Renton on Monday or Tuesday.

The elections office is open from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Officials will be available to assist those who may need help casting a ballot.

And on Monday, the price of a stamp jumped by a penny, to 42 cents.

However, those who use the Forever stamp imprinted with the Liberty Bell don’t need to add a penny stamp because those first-class stamps work forever, no matter when they were purchased. However, clearly marked 41-cent stamps would need the extra 1-cent postage.

The Post Office has told the school district it will deliver mail-in ballots with 41-cent postage, although the school district will have to make up the difference, according to Matheson. He’s not expecting that bill will amount to much.

And, Matheson reminds voters that they don’t have to wait until Tuesday, May 20 - the actual election day - to return their ballots. One of the dangers is that the ballot won’t get postmarked on Tuesday, the deadline, if placed in a mail box.

Contact Renton Reporter Editor Dean Radford at editor@rentonreporter.com or 425-255-3484, ext. 5050.

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