King Conservation District holds online vote for board seat

Published 12:26 pm Friday, February 18, 2011

In one of the first elections of its kind in the United States, King Conservation District (King CD) has launched an internet-based election allowing voters to cast their ballots online from home, business or other locations with computers.

The King CD focuses on delivering natural resources information and technical assistance to landowners within its boundaries, which is most of King County. The conservation district receives taxpayer support.

Online voting for an position on the district’s Board of Supervisors will take place over a 30-day period through 9 p.m. March 15.

Four candidates are in the field for board Position 2. They are Douglas

“Bruce” Elliott of Kent, Teri Herrera of Redmond; Eric K. Nelson of Duvall and Preston Prudente of Sammamish.

“We are pleased to have a full slate of candidates for our inaugural on-line election,” said Bill Knutsen, King CD board of supervisors chairman.

Besides online voting, the district will also provide a one-day, in-person voting option at the King CD’s Renton office on March 15 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The office is located at 1107 S.W. Grady Way, Suite 130, Renton.

All votes will be tallied at the conclusion of voting.

King CD has retained election supervisor Election Trust LLC (Bellevue) and Scytl Secure Electronic Voting USA (Washington, D.C.) to manage and conduct the election process.

Individuals registered to vote in King County (excluding residents of cities that are not members of the King Conservation District: Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific and Skykomish) are eligible to vote.

Online voters will be required to complete a two-step process: submitting a signed affidavit to confirm voting eligibility; then voting using a Personal Identification Number (PIN) issued by Election Trust.

Visit kingcd.org for more information on the election and on-line voting procedures, visit www.kingcd.org.

The King CD has initiated the online voting alternative following the November 2010 revisions in rules governing conservation district elections in Washington State.

The all-volunteer, five-member board includes three elected members and two who are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. All supervisors serve three-year terms.

The board of supervisors conducts regular public meetings to oversee the district’s budget and provide policy guidance and oversight to district staff.

Supervisors are expected to help identify critical resource conservation needs in their district, communicate with the public and seek feedback about conservation programs from district residents.