Voter registration challenge failed

Published 11:07 am Thursday, January 14, 2016

One day after King County officials heard testimony in a challenge of North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing’s voter registration, they ruled in Hearing’s favor.

King County Elections Director Julie Wise wrote in a Jan. 8 decision, “the challenger (Bryan Stokosa of Snoqualmie) failed to meet the high burden of proof set forth in RCW 29A.08.840,” in the Jan. 7 hearing, and “Since the challenged voter (Hearing) has not established a new residence, his residence at the house on Janet Avenue is presumed to continue.”

In his complaint, Stokosa claimed that Hearing did not actually live at the address Janet Avenue address on his voter registration, but at another address, on Southeast 133rd Street, just outside of North Bend city limits.

Voter registration challenges are rare in King County, said elections officials, and in the past, decisions have been issued within about 10 days of the hearing.