EVERETT — Primary election ballots for Snohomish County and Washington must be post-marked by Tuesday August 4 or submitted at a dedicated ballot drop box to qualify for tabulation in contests that will determine the November general election for five State Supreme Court Justice positions and the entirety of the Washington Legislature.
U.S. Congressional races–three of which encompass Snohomish County in the 1st, 2nd and 8th districts–also involve primary contests to determine which two candidates will advance to the November 3 general election.
Ballots for the primary election and printed voter’s guide were mailed to registered voters by the Snohomish County Auditor on July 14. If you’re not registered to vote but would like to do so, you can register to vote up until primary election day on Aug. 4. For information on voter registration, click here. The primary election must be certified by the county and the state on August 18.
The Snohomish County voter’s guide is linked here for candidate and campaign information as well as pro / con arguments for a variety of ballot issues across the county.
Here are some of those localized voter propositions.
The Everett City Council has adopted Resolution No. 8296 concerning restoration of the City’s emergency medical services (EMS) levy.
If approved, this proposition would restore Everett’s previously authorized EMS levy to a rate of $0.50 / $1,000 of assessed value in each year for 2027 and 2028 to pay for emergency medical care and services, including paramedic services and related expenses described in the Resolution, by authorizing an increase above the maximum levy otherwise permitted under chapter 84.55 RCW. Subsequent levy limits would be based on the 2028 levy. Qualifying seniors, veterans, and others would be exempt (ch. 84.36 RCW).
City of Stanwood voters will decide Proposition No. 1 for funding enhanced public safety services a sales and use tax. If approved, a one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) sales and use tax will be implemented. The revenue will be used for public safety and criminal justice purposes, including funding current and enhanced levels of police staffing, dispatch services, district court services, prosecuting attorney services, public defense services, jail services, police department support services, and other related expenses.
Darrington School District No. 330 voters will decide Proposition No. 1, a replacement of an expiring levy for educational programs and operations. The Board of Directors of Darrington School District No. 330 adopted Resolution No. 453-04-26, concerning a proposition for a replacement levy for education. This proposition would authorize the District to levy the following excess taxes, replacing an expiring levy, on all taxable property within the District, for educational programs and operations expenses not funded by the State, including reduced class sizes, counselors, arts, athletics, music, extracurricular activities:
Collection Year Estimated Levy Rate/$1,000 Assessed Value Levy Amount
- 2027 $1.24 $950,000
- 2028 $1.16 $950,000
- 2029 $1.10 $950,000
- 2030 $1.02 $950,000
Snohomish County Fire Protection District No. 15 voters will decide a proposition to finance maintenance and operation expenses. This proposition would authorize the District to levy an excess property tax on all taxable property within the District for four years to be used for maintenance and operations and to maintain the current level of fire and emergency medical services. The levy amount shall be as follows:
Collection Year Approximate Levy Rate/$1,000 Assessed Value Levy Amount
- 2027 0.6214 $450,000
- 2028 0.6152 $450,000
- 2029 0.6091 $450,000
- 2030 0.6031 $450,000
Fire Protection District No. 19 Proposition No. 1 asks voters to approve or reject an emergency medical services property-tax levy lid lift. This proposition would provide funds solely for emergency medical care and services. It restores the District’s maximum emergency medical services regular levy rate for collection in 2027 to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation and sets the limit factor for levy increases in 2028 through 2032 at 106%. The maximum allowable levy amount for 2032 will be used for the purpose of computing the limitations for subsequent levies under chapter 84.55 RCW.
Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue Proposition No. 1 also involves a property-tax levy lid lift for emergency medical services. Voters will decide the proposition to approve or reject funding emergency medical services (EMS) by restoring the District’s regular EMS property tax levy in 2026 to $.50 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation and authorize a limit factor of the greater of 1 percent or the June CPI-U for Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue for each of the following five years. The maximum allowable levy in the final year shall serve as the base for subsequent levy limitations as provided by Chapter 84.55 RCW.
Public Hospital District No. 1 Proposition No. 1 involves $382 million in bonds for a new hospital replacement. Voters within Public Hospital District No. 1 in Snohomish County (EvergreenHealth Monroe), adopted Resolution No. 2026-01 concerning a proposition for new replacement hospital and health care facilities. This proposition would authorize the District to construct and equip a new replacement hospital and carry out other capital improvements deemed necessary or advisable by the Commission to address the healthcare needs of the community; issue no more than $382,000,000.00 of general obligation bonds maturing within 30 years; and levy annual excess property taxes to repay the bonds.
Sno-Isle Intercounty Rural Library District voters will decide Proposition No. 1, a regular property tax levy lid lift for support of public library services. The Board of Trustees of Sno-Isle Intercounty Rural Library District adopted Resolution No. 26-01 concerning its regular property tax levy. This proposition would authorize the District to restore its regular property tax levy rate to $0.47 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2027, in order to provide continued funding for library services, operations and maintenance throughout the District. The resulting dollar amount of the 2027 levy would be used for the purpose of computing subsequent levy limitations as provided by chapter 84.55 RCW.