Open Enrollment begins tomorrow

Open Enrollment starts tomorrow, Nov. 1 and ends Nov. 15. Most employees have significant changes to the benefits offered in 2025. Use the following resources to learn about the changes and all of your benefit choices, so you can make the best decisions for you and your family during Open Enrollment. Go to the Open Enrollment website and see the 2025 Key Benefit Changes. Attend a Benefit Fair. The first one is tomorrow, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. in the Chinook Building, Room 121/123. Register for an Open Enrollment information session…. Read More

Halloween is a great day to vote

Happy Halloween! It’s a great day to vote! We’re projecting 82% turnout for this Election – that’s more than a million ballots returned! – and we expect to see the majority of ballots returned on Monday, Nov. 4 and Tuesday, Election Day, Nov. 5. If you need assistance with anything, give King County Elections a call at 206-296-VOTE, or visit a Vote Center this weekend. You’ll find a list of Vote Center locations and hours at kce.wiki/VoteCenter. Your ballot is too important to leave until the last minute. At King County Elections, we… Read More

Working to end domestic violence 

Dear fellow King County employee,  This month, we observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month in King County to raise awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence, signs of abuse, and how we can stop it.  Shockingly, on average, nearly 24 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States – more than 12 million people each year – according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. This can be our family, friends, neighbors, work colleagues, and even ourselves. If a person is an abusive relationship, whatever stage, they need to… Read More

Happy National Vote Early Day

Your King County ballot will be on time if it’s postmarked by Nov. 5, or if it’s in an official ballot drop box before 8 p.m. on Election Night. With that in mind, we’re expecting more than 300,000 ballots to be returned just on Election Day, so we recommend getting ahead of the drop box lines and returning your ballot today! For more information, visit https://kingcounty.gov/elections.

Make your vote plan

Do you have a vote plan? Research shows that voters who make a clear plan to vote are most likely to follow through and make their voices heard. Take a moment today to consider things like where you’ll vote, what pen you’ll use, and what resources you’ll use to research your choices. If you’d like to return your ballot by mail, it’s best to get it mailed by Friday, Nov. 1, to be sure it’s postmarked on time. There are 85 official ballot drop boxes around the county and they’ll be open… Read More

La Niña predicted to return to King County, prepare for a potentially active flood season

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in King County. Scientists expect that La Niña, a natural weather pattern of cooler and wetter weather, will happen this fall and winter, creating the potential for an active flood season in the region from October through April. Typically, La Niña lasts for one or two years, but the most recent La Niña lasted from 2020 to 2023, which was unusual. There were some moderate to high flood events during those years that resulted in major damage to homes, businesses, roads, and other important infrastructure in King… Read More

King County Metro’s ‘24/7’ commitment to bus shelter cleaning

Cross-posted from Metro Matters At King County Metro, we know the importance to our riders of a clean and inviting bus stop. That’s why we’ve moved our cleaning teams to around-the-clock service, introduced a cool new tool to scrub sidewalks and are transitioning to clear polycarbonate in many of our bus shelters. Metro Facilities Superintendent Jose Reyna and his teams are pleased to now provide shelter cleaning for three, eight-hour shifts per day. “Metro upgrading to more frequent cleanings of bus shelters lets us respond more quickly,” Reyna said. “Also, we will have… Read More

The Heart and Soul of King County Parks

Cross-posted from King County Parks: Blogs From Your Big Backyard Parks employee RJT can always be spotted at the Jim Ellis Memorial Regional Park’s Preston Athletic Fields with a smile on his face and a song ready to belt. RJT, who has worked for King County for 33 years, has been a staple at the play fields in the eastside community. He can often be heard singing loudly while leaf blowing and cleaning the pavement. RJT’s favorite tasks are push mowing the lawns and cleaning the community center. He’s also responsible for trash and… Read More

King County’s comprehensive new flood plan capitalizes on the latest climate science, adapts to increased flood risks in urban and coastal communities

King County’s first complete update of its Flood Management Plan since 2006 capitalizes on the latest climate science to describe how flood risks in urban and coastal communities and along tributary streams are expected to change in the future. It also identifies actions that will reduce flood risk, improve habitat, and enhance the resilience of communities. Severe flooding – already the most common natural disaster in King County – is expected to occur more frequently due to climate change. The comprehensive plan will guide investments, strategies, and actions to mitigate increasing flood risk. The… Read More

Sign up for ballot alerts

Visit kce.wiki/BallotAlert to receive an alert when we’ve received your ballot back at King County Elections Headquarters, and when your signature has been verified. We will send you a reminder to vote before Election Day, and an alert if there’s any issue with your signature. Ballot alerts are the best way to track your ballot through every part of the process. For more information, visit https://kingcounty.gov/en/home/dept/elections.