Burien voters are strongly leaning toward approving Initiative Measure No. 1, which would establish a citywide minimum wage similar to Tukwila’s, according to the second round of election results released on Wednesday for Tuesday’s Feb. 11 Special Election.
As of the latest ballot count, released Tuesday afternoon, 55% of voters (3,288 votes) support the measure, while 45% (2,690 votes) oppose it, up slightly from 54.33% in the first round.
With 5,982 ballots counted so far, voter turnout sits at 19.84% of Burien’s 30,146 registered voters. Additional ballots remain to be processed before final certification.
The measure requires a simple majority to win, which looks quite likely.
More ballots were counted in the second update, increasing from 5,094 to 5,982.
City of Burien
Ballots Counted: 5,982
* Registered Voters: 30,146 • 19.84%
Initiative Measure No. 1
- Yes: 3,288 • 55.00%
- No: 2,690 • 45.00%
Initiative 1 would gradually increase Burien’s minimum wage, aligning it with nearby Tukwila’s, where the current hourly rate is $21.10 and adjusted annually for inflation. The measure also includes provisions requiring employers to offer additional hours to part-time employees before hiring new staff.
Proponents argue the measure will provide fair wages for workers, while opponents express concerns about potential economic impacts on small businesses.
King County Elections will continue processing ballots in the coming days, with final results to be certified on Feb. 24.
Comparison of the Two Election Result Updates
The two sets of election results show how the vote count and percentages have shifted between the first and second rounds of ballot tallies:
| CATEGORY | 1st RESULTS (2/11/25, 8:02 PM) | 2nd RESULTS (2/12/25, 3:19 PM) | CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballots Counted | 5,094 | 5,982 | +888 |
| Yes Votes | 2,766 (54.33%) | 3,288 (55.00%) | +522 votes (+0.67%) |
| No Votes | 2,325 (45.67%) | 2,690 (45.00%) | +365 votes (-0.67%) |
| Voter Turnout | 16.90% | 19.84% | +2.94% |
Still a lot of votes to be counted, but this is finally some good news for Burien. Seems that if we want to address any issues in Burien, it will necessarily have to come from the citizens through ballot measures, as the Mayor, City Manager, City Attorney, and most of City Council are corrupt.
So glad to see these results though.
Thank you Burien voters for seeing through the lies, protecting workers rights, and supporting Burien’s working families.
This didn’t come from the citizens, it came from groups pushing agendas and beliefs upon the City to pad union coffers. If you think the only way to create change is by selling out and being a puppet of non Burien entities you are just being controlled and brainwashed. This effort will be another nail in the coffin and cause prices to go up and benefits and hours cut from those you advocate for. Great idea.
Agreed.
I’m very concerned that this is passing. I’m opposed to ANY ordinance that allows another city to decide for Burien voters what laws that they can and can’t have!
I’m confused by your comment. We just finished voting on this.
The reality is that this measure will have serious consequences for Burien’s small businesses. Unlike Tukwila, which has large corporations and a massive mall to absorb higher labor costs, Burien’s economy is driven by small, local businesses that will now struggle to stay afloat. Many will be forced to cut jobs, reduce hours, or shut down entirely—leaving room for big corporations to step in and dominate the market. This “Walmart effect” hurts the very workers this measure claims to protect.
What’s also concerning is the level of hostility directed at the Mayor, City Council, and other city officials. Disagreeing on policy is one thing, but resorting to ad hominem attacks and calling them “corrupt” without evidence only poisons the discussion.
If people truly care about protecting workers and supporting Burien’s economy, the focus should be on solutions—like policies that help small businesses stay competitive—rather than baseless attacks against those trying to govern responsibly.
Quote un quote “Seems that if we want to address any issues in Burien, it will necessarily have to come from the citizens through ballot measures” Don’t you mean it will have to come from the City of Tukwila if this passes?
This is welcome news! So happy to see folks not accepting the half-truths perpetrated by the majority of Council Members and our “Certified” City Manager.
Concerning by the recent push for changes in Burien, particularly with the support of Initiative 1. If you take a moment to review the comments from those who were in favor of the initiative, it’s clear that their focus is less on the substance of the initiative itself and more on attacking the Burien City Council. In many cases, these comments are laced with derogatory remarks rather than offering constructive feedback or praise for the initiative they supported.
What’s more troubling is that many of these individuals seem to be focused solely on opposing the council, refusing to consider the broader consequences of their actions—even when those consequences harm the citizens of Burien. The situation has become about “winning” against the council rather than thinking critically about the best outcomes for our community.
I strongly advise anyone with similar views to these activists to take a step back and research the issue for themselves. The narrative being pushed seems is built on bias and a refusal to engage with facts. We’re seeing people locked into a mindset that ignores alternative perspectives and selectively interprets information to fit their preconceived beliefs. This tunnel vision does a major disservice to the city and its residents.
Whats concerning the most is the prioritization of scoring a “win” over considering the broader, long-term impact on Burien. When motivations shift from seeking solutions to simply undermining others, the real damage to the city and its citizens becomes evident. It’s a sad reality, just look at downtown Seattle… now they want that to happen here.
Burien citizens voted for this. Burien citizens signed the petition to get this on the ballot. Burien citizens organized for this and got endorsements from sympathetic entities, and lobbied, because Burien citizens felt that our city government was doing a disservice to Burien’s minimum wage workers. Some Burien citizens are also members of the organizations that endorsed this ballot. Just because the organizations may be regional or national, they still have membership among Burienites. In this case, more Burien citizens voted for this measure than the number of Burien citizens who voted no.
In case you all forgot, it’s the number of citizens that vote which matters, not just the number of business owners. I don’t actually care what Tukwila does; I do care that Burien workers should be able to afford to live in the same region they work. Burienites shouldn’t have to work in Tukwila to afford to live in Burien, and the cost of living is no different.
1. You said “Burienites shouldn’t have to work in Tukwila to afford to live in Burien, and the cost of living is no different. ” Except this is an initiative regarding minimum wage not living wage nor will this initiative passing begin finical independence for anyone.
2. You said “Burien citizens organized for this and got endorsements from sympathetic entities”. Take a look at who those sympathetic entities are and the activists, what does the majority share in common …. Pro Seattle Democrats.
3. I don’t Burien to turn into downtown Seattle or be governed like the city of Seattle.
Burien has a plan for growth of over 20k in the next 20 years; where do you think that growth is coming from? Seattle, and its periphery. Like it or not, Burien will grow along with Seattle, and that also means Seattle’s politics and demographics will bleed into Burien. You can vote against it, as you have. And you’re likely to win some of those votes. This wasn’t one of them.
Regarding “minimum” vs “living” wage — that’s a gap that, in many people’s opinions (like mine!), shouldn’t exist. Anything to bring the minimum wage closer to a living wage is a blessing for those who are the most vulnerable. As someone who’s lived in poverty, small increases can mean a whole lot, even if they’re not a silver bullet.
Yes Burien is likely to grow as part of the broader Seattle metropolitan area, but growth isn’t seen as something inevitable without considering its implications. If Burien’s expansion simply followed Seattle’s growth, we risk (and already have) importing the very issues that have contributed to challenges there like housing affordability, policing, business loss, homeless epidemic, drug infestation, and income inequality. But let’s mimic governing those cycles right, because?
The better question is: how should Burien grow? We need thoughtful planning, not just expansion for the sake of expansion with no regards for the wake behind it.