City of Seattle Proposition No. 1 — Seattle Transit Measure (King County)

What it does

The City of Seattle adopted Ordinance No. 127474 concerning funding for transit service and related transportation needs in Seattle. The City of Seattle’s Proposition 1 would dedicate funding to transit services benefiting Seattle residents, including more frequent service; affordable fare programs for qualifying individuals; reliability, access, and climate projects; enhanced service on RapidRide and routes serving regional centers and high equity priority areas; facilitation of Sound Transit expansion; and others as provided in Ordinance 127474. It authorizes a 0.3% sales and use tax for up to ten years to replace the current voter-approved 0.15% sales tax expiring March 31, 2027. Should this Proposition be approved?

A YES vote means

Seattle would levy a 0.3% sales tax for up to ten years for transit service, fare programs and related projects, replacing the current 0.15% sales tax that expires March 31, 2027.

A NO vote means

Seattle would not levy this 0.3% transit sales tax, and the current 0.15% tax would still expire March 31, 2027.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

Seattle voters approved a 0.1% transit sales tax and $60 vehicle fee in 2014 and a 0.15% sales tax (the Seattle Transit Measure) in 2020; according to the Council central staff memo, the current measure was projected to raise $56.6 million in 2026 and expires March 31, 2027.

The Mayor proposed renewing the measure at 0.3%, the maximum sales tax the City may impose as a transportation benefit district, for up to 10 years; central staff estimated it would generate approximately $138 million annually.

Under Ordinance 127474, revenue would go to transit service, affordable fare programs, reliability, access and climate projects, and facilitation of Sound Transit expansion, with annual public reporting; the Council added amendments requiring reports on fare recovery, low-income fare program expansion and bus service near schools.

The City Council passed the ordinance as amended 9–0 on July 21, 2026, and the Mayor signed it July 30, 2026.

Put on the ballot by Seattle City Council, 9–0, July 21, 2026 (Ordinance 127474, Council Bill 121226).

From official source 1, official source 2, official source 3.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on King County ballots

• City of Shoreline Proposition No. 1 — Formation of the Shoreline Metropolitan Park District
• City of Kenmore Proposition No. 1 — Climate & Environmental Stewardship, Affordable Housing, and Human Services Levy
• City of Lake Forest Park Proposition No. 1 — Public Safety Services Levy Lid Lift
• City of Issaquah Proposition No. 1 — Parks and Open Space Bonds
• City of Clyde Hill Proposition No. 1 — Levy to Continue Providing Public Safety and Land Use Services in Clyde Hill
• City of SeaTac Proposition No. 1 — Fire Prevention and Criminal Justice Sales and Use Tax

All King County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Seattle Proposition No. 1 mean?

Seattle would levy a 0.3% sales tax for up to ten years for transit service, fare programs and related projects, replacing the current 0.15% sales tax that expires March 31, 2027.

What does a NO vote on City of Seattle Proposition No. 1 mean?

Seattle would not levy this 0.3% transit sales tax, and the current 0.15% tax would still expire March 31, 2027.

How many votes does City of Seattle Proposition No. 1 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City of Seattle Proposition No. 1?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.