King County special election: Voters favor funding for crime-solving tool
Preliminary results from Tuesday’s special election appear to show voters’ continued support in funding the regional automated fingerprint identification system, known as AFIS, with the eighth property tax levy in nearly 40 years headed toward renewal.
The only countywide measure on the spring ballot, King County voters were asked to reauthorize a seven-year levy beginning in 2026 to keep funding the program, used by every law enforcement agency in the county. A simple majority is required for it to pass. About 59.7% of voters were approving the measure in the first results released Tuesday night.
More ballots will be tallied in the coming days.
AFIS, a regional database containing finger and palm prints of nearly 1 million people, is used to match unknown prints left behind at crime scenes to known prints. People who are arrested and booked into jail have contributed the bulk of prints stored in AFIS computers. But the system is also used to store prints of people who undergo background checks — both civilians and prospective officers — before working for law enforcement agencies; registered sex offenders; people with concealed pistol licenses; and people who need special licenses, including taxi drivers and adult entertainers.
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/king-county-special-election-voters-favor-funding-for-crime-solving-tool/