Grant, Adams spring elections certified
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 2 weeks AGO
The only education-related measure not to pass in recent elections was the Ephrata School District bond that would have replaced two aging campuses, including Grant Elementary School and Parkway Intermediate School, while also making improvements to aging facilities at Ephrata High School.
OLYMPIA — Grant and Adams counties have finalized the results of the February 2026 special election, with turnout reaching about 32% in Grant County, where 6,944 ballots were cast out of 21,687 registered voters. In Adams County, voter turnout was about 28%, with 2,390 ballots returned from 8,610 registered voters.
All of the proposed Capital Levies and Educational Programs and Operations Levies passed in both Grant and Adams counties. EP&O levies help fund day-to-day operations and extra-curricular activities. Capital levies are used to fund repairs or improvements to existing infrastructure.
However, the Ephrata School District Bond measure fell short of the supermajority needed to pass. Bonds help fund new construction as opposed to EP&O levies which fund education, operations and extracurriculars, generally.
Passed
Across both counties, all of the proposed school levies were approved by voters.
In Grant County, the Wahluke School District’s EP&O Levy passed with 362 yes votes compared to 259 no votes.
The Quincy School District saw strong approval as well, with voters supporting its EP&O levy by 1,243 votes in favor to 614 opposed.
The Warden School District passed both its measures: its EP&O levy received 249 yes votes to 148 no votes, and its Capital Levy drew 253 yes votes to 131 no votes.
The Coulee‑Hartline School District Enrichment Levy passed with 317 yes votes to 113 no votes.
In the Royal School District, voters approved the EP&O Levy with 373 votes in favor and 207 against.
Meanwhile, the Wilson Creek School District passed its EP&O Levy with 65 yes votes to 42 no votes.
In Adams County, Ritzville School District voters approved both of their measures. The EP&O Levy passed with 422 votes in favor and 287 opposed, while the Capital Levy passed with 463 yes votes compared to 246 no votes.
The Othello School District EP&O Levy, which appeared on ballots in both counties, also passed with about 818 yes votes to 438 no votes.
Failed
The only measure to fail in either county was the Ephrata School District bond, which required a supermajority, 60%, for passage.
It fell short, receiving approximately 1,439 yes votes and 1,600 no votes. Had it passed, the district had intended to use the funds to replace Parkway Intermediate School, Grant Elementary School and make improvements to the Ephrata High campus.
The only education-related measure not to pass in recent elections was the Ephrata School District bond that would have replaced two aging campuses, including Grant Elementary School and Parkway Intermediate School, while also making improvements to aging facilities at Ephrata High School.ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
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