February special election ballots due Tuesday

With days to go before the February special election, about 7,000 voters still need to cast ballots to validate Vancouver Public Schools’ bond results.

Both Vancouver Public Schools and Ridgefield Public Schools are running bond measures in Tuesday’s election to repair aging buildings and build new campuses. In order to be valid, turnout must equal or exceed 40 percent of the number of voters who participated in the last general election.

As of Friday, 20,363 voters living in the Vancouver school district had cast ballots. The district needs 27,000.

“Over the past two years, we’ve engaged hundreds of stakeholders in shaping this ballot measure,” Superintendent Steve Webb said. “Early ballot-return numbers indicate just how much that matters to them. But every ballot counts.”

Ridgefield, meanwhile, needed 3,744 votes, and has already received 3,900 votes.

Bonds need 60 percent approval to pass.

Five other districts — Battle Ground, Camas, Hockinson, Washougal and Woodland — are running levies. Levies need only pass with a simple majority, and there is no law mandating how many votes they must receive to be validated.

Ballots must be returned to a drop off location by 8 p.m. Tuesday, or postmarked by that day.