- What is the King Conservation District?
The King Conservation District (KCD) is a natural resources assistance agency that promotes the sustainable use of natural resources through responsible stewardship. KCD’s service area includes 34 cities and all of unincorporated King County. Excluded are the cities of Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific and Skykomish.
For residents in the KCD service area, the organization provides education, training and technical assistance on issues such as water quality protection, wildlife habitat enhancement, farm conservation plans, soil and slope stability information, native plant products, manure match information, volunteer opportunities, and stream restoration.
- What is the King Conservation District Election?
First, it’s important to note that this is a unique election. Unlike most special purpose districts, the King Conservation District is authorized to run their own elections. KCD is not governed under the same election laws as most other jurisdictions and has a great deal of flexibility in how they conduct their elections.For the election currently underway they have contracted with King County Elections to assist with ballot processing.
KCD has chosen to utilize mobile voting technology this year in an attempt to increase participation. In prior years, voters have had to request KCD to mail them a ballot, vote, and then return it. This technology is meant to make ballot access easier.
A five-member Board of Supervisors is responsible for overseeing all KCD programs and activities. Three members are elected by voters and two are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. There is currently an election underway for one position on the Board of Supervisors for a six year term. Election Day is February 11 and ballots are available now on the KCD website.
- Is the King Conservation District Election secure?
Yes. The King Conservation District made the decision to contract with a well-respected vendor, DemocracyLive, to provide this secure online ballot access and return portal. King County Elections works with DemocracyLive to provide military and overseas voters electronic access to their ballots and have never had a security breach or issue with that system. The system has been extensively tested by local and national IT security experts.
There’s no special app, there’s no electronic storage of votes. Instead a voter’s choice is recorded onto a PDF, which they then verify before submission. That PDF submission arrives to our offices electronically and is printed to go through the same ballot processing procedures that we use for our mail-in ballots here in Washington State, including signature verification.
- Are all King County elections going to use mobile voting technology?
No. We believe strongly in the vote-by-mail system that we currently use. This is not a pilot program of King County Elections nor is it a system that we plan to utilize in the future.
- Can I vote in the King Conversation District Election?
If you live in King County and not in the cities of Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific and Skykomish, then YES, you can vote in the KCD election. If you are already registered to vote, you don’t need to do anything else – just go online to access your ballot.
Information about the candidates running for the KCD Board of Supervisors position can be found on the King Conversation District website as well as on the online platform through which you can also access your ballot.
- How can I return my ballot?
There are three ways to return your ballot:
- Voters may submit their ballot electronically through the same platform they used to access it.
- Voters may print and mail their ballot to King County, Elections, 919 SW Grady Way, Suite 200, Renton, WA 98057.
- Votes may print and return their ballot to a King County Elections ballot drop box. Locations can be found on here.
Voters can also go in-person to the King Conservation District’s Office, 800 SW 39th St., Suite 150, Renton, WA 98057 from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, February 11.
Election Connection 