By Peninsula Daily News news services
SEATTLE — A measure in SeaTac that would give some workers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport a $15 per hour minimum wage is hanging on to its slim lead.
As of today (Thursday), Proposition 1 had a 69-vote lead.
Supporters of the proposal say they expect the opposition to ask for a recount. Under election laws, the group that requests a recount must pay for it.
Yes! For SeaTac spokeswoman Heather Weiner says that King County Elections has accepted affidavits for 50 mail-in ballots that had signature issues.
The results of the race are being closely watched by both national labor and business groups who invested $1.8 million and time into influencing the vote.
Election results will be certified on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
Campaigns can request a recount within two days of certification, but they will have to pay for the cost of the count.
The costs are 15 cents for each ballot in a machine recount or 25 cents for each ballot in a manual recount.
So far the race has had fewer than 6,000 votes, so the cost of a recount could be under $1,000 or closer to $1,500.
On election night, the initiative was leading by a 261-vote margin, leading supporters to declare victory. But they have since lost much of that advantage. The measure was passing with 3,026 “yes” mail-in votes compared to 2,957 “no” votes today (Thursday.)
Washington has the nation’s highest state minimum wage at $9.19 an hour; the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
Proponents say the plan will support the local economy and particularly help thousands of workers who could use the money.
Opponents express concern about the impacts on businesses and contend that the plan’s enforcement may end up costing the small city of SeaTac money.
