Bellevue residents casting ballots in the Nov. 3 general election will decide contested races for Congress, the state Legislature and the King County Council, along with a statewide initiative that could eliminate an estimated $11.4 billion in state revenue over five years.

Drop boxes and vote centers close at 8 p.m. sharp. Ballots mailed back must be postmarked by Nov. 3 to count, according to King County Elections. No stamp is needed.

King County Elections is projecting 75% turnout, representing about 1.1 million ballots from the county's 1.45 million registered voters, according to an Oct. 7 media advisory. In the 2022 general election, turnout reached 66%.

What's on Bellevue ballots

U.S. House, 1st Congressional District: Incumbent Rep. Suzan DelBene, a Democrat serving her seventh term, faces Republican challenger Mary Silva, an audiologist, according to the Bellevue Reporter. The district covers Bellevue, Bothell, Kirkland, Redmond and other north King County communities. DelBene chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the Seattle Times reported.

41st Legislative District (Mercer Island, Newcastle, portions of Bellevue, Renton, Issaquah and Sammamish): State Rep. Position 1 pits Janice Zahn, a Democrat appointed in January 2025 and former Bellevue City Council member, against Republican Elle Nguyen, a business owner. State Rep. Position 2 features incumbent My-Linh T. Thai, a Democrat in office since 2019, against Independent Michael Rosen, the Bellevue Reporter reported.

48th Legislative District (Redmond, portions of Bellevue and Kirkland): State Sen. Vandana Slatter, a Democrat, is running unopposed. State Rep. Position 1 matches incumbent Osman Salahuddin, a Democrat appointed in January 2025, against Republican Jeffery Poppe. State Rep. Position 2 is a contest between two Democrats: incumbent Amy Walen and Jessica Forsythe, a Redmond City Council member.

King County Council District 6: Incumbent Claudia Balducci is seeking reelection in a district that represents northern Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Medina, Mercer Island and southwestern Redmond, according to a Wikipedia entry on the race. This is the first King County Council election held in an even-numbered year after a 2022 charter amendment shifted the cycle.

State Supreme Court: Five of nine seats are on the ballot, Fox 13 Seattle reported.

Initiative Measure No. IP26-645

The highest-profile statewide measure asks voters whether to repeal Washington's 9.9% tax on individual income over $1 million, which the Legislature passed in 2026 and set to take effect in calendar year 2028. A "yes" vote would also prohibit future state and local taxes on individual income, according to the state voters' pamphlet.

The pamphlet's fiscal impact statement estimates approval would cost the state $11.4 billion over fiscal years 2027 through 2031. That money was slated for K-12 education, higher education, healthcare and childcare programs.

Two other statewide initiatives address parental rights in public schools (Initiative 001) and transgender student participation in school athletics (Initiative 638), Fox 13 reported.

How to return your ballot

Voters can return ballots three ways: at an official drop box, by mail or in person at a vote center.

King County Elections added 15 drop boxes this year, bringing the countywide total to 100. Bellevue drop box locations listed by the Bellevue Reporter include Bellevue College, Bellevue Library, Crossroads Shopping Center, Newport Way Library and North Bellevue Community Center. Bellevue College is also a new drop box location, according to King County Elections. The full list is at kingcounty.gov/elections.

Vote centers offer in-person assistance and accessible voting equipment for voters with disabilities. They are open 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day at all locations, according to King County Elections' vote center page. The Bellevue Reporter listed Bellevue College as an in-person assistance site.

Registration

The Oct. 26 deadline for online and mail registration has passed. Voters can still register in person at a vote center through 8 p.m. on Election Day, according to the state voters' pamphlet. To vote, a person must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen, a Washington resident and not currently confined in prison for a felony.

Washington does not require a photo ID to vote by mail. Voters sign the return envelope, and election staff match that signature to the voter registration file.

Accessibility and language services

King County vote centers have trained staff and specialized equipment to help voters with disabilities cast a private ballot. An audio version of the voters' pamphlet is available at sos.wa.gov/elections, or on USB drive by calling 1-800-448-4881, according to the state pamphlet. King County voters can request voting materials in Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese.

Results

Results will be posted after 8 p.m. on Election Day, with one posting only on election night, King County Elections said. Results are unofficial until certification, scheduled for Nov. 24. Updated counts will be posted on weekdays at 4 p.m. from Nov. 4 through Nov. 23. Voters who receive a signature challenge notice have until 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 23 to resolve it.

Track your ballot at VoteWA.gov. Reach King County Elections at 206-296-8683 or [email protected].