The third round of returns for the Special Election of Burien’s Initiative 1 – released on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 – shows the minimum wage measure maintaining a solid lead, with 55.55% of voters (3,829 votes) in favor and 44.45% (3,064 votes) opposed, according to King County Elections.
The measure requires a simple majority to win, which looks even more likely given the latest numbers.
So far, 6,898 ballots have been counted, representing 22.88% of Burien’s 30,146 registered voters.
If passed, Initiative 1 would align Burien’s minimum wage with Tukwila’s, currently set at $21.10 per hour, with gradual increases for smaller businesses. It also includes a requirement for employers to offer additional hours to part-time employees before hiring new staff.
City of Burien
Ballots Counted: 6,898
* Registered Voters: 30,146 22.88%
Initiative Measure No. 1
- Yes 3,829 • 55.55%
- No 3,064 • 44.45%
Comparison of the Three Election Result Updates
The three sets of election results show how the vote count and percentages have shifted between the first, second and third rounds of ballot tallies:
| CATEGORY | 1st RESULTS (2/11/25, 8:02 PM) | 2nd RESULTS (2/12/25, 3:19 PM) | 3rd RESULTS (2/13/25, 3:17 PM) | CHANGE FROM 2ND TO 3RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballots Counted | 5,094 | 5,982 | 6,898 | +916 |
| Yes Votes | 2,766 (54.33%) | 3,288 (55.00%) | 3,829 (55.55%) | +541 votes (+0.55%) |
| No Votes | 2,325 (45.67%) | 2,690 (45.00%) | 3,064 (44.45%) | +374 votes (-0.55%) |
| Voter Turnout | 16.90% | 19.84% | 22.88% | +3.04% |
Key Takeaways
- 916 additional ballots were counted between the second and third updates.
- “Yes” votes have continued to gain ground, increasing from 54.33% to 55.55% over the three updates.
- “No” votes have slightly decreased in percentage, dropping from 45.67% to 44.45%.
- The margin in favor of Initiative 1 has slightly widened by +.55% as more ballots are counted.
King County Elections will continue processing ballots in the coming days, with final results to be certified on Feb. 24.
Good. Businesses have enough control over our city.