Democrats appeared to have lost their only foothold in rural Eastern Washington in preliminary results in the 16th District election released Tuesday night.

The most sweeping plan yet from anti-tax activist Tim Eyman was soundly rejected Tuesday as voters appeared unwilling to put government on a forced diet of limited spending.

OLYMPIA -- Washington voters on Tuesday were narrowly approving the state's new "everything but marriage" law that marks a significant expansion of rights for gay couples.

PASCO -- A sales tax increase to help pay for a jail expansion and public safety enhancements in Franklin County appears to be failing, but officials said they're hopeful that ballots still left to count will trend in their favor.

Kennewick councilmen Steve Young and Bob Parks appear to have held onto their positions while voters were ousting three other incumbents Tuesday in favor of Don Britain, Sharon Brown and John Hubbard.

West Richland appears to have a new mayor along with possibly two new faces on its city council, based on the results of the initial vote count Tuesday night.

The heated race for two contested Pasco City Council seats was going to the incumbents in votes counted Tuesday.

Five candidates have filed for two seats on the Kennewick Irrigation District board of directors that come up for election Dec. 8.

A longtime Richland City Council incumbent appeared to be losing her bid for re-election Tuesday night, while a relative newcomer to the council kept her seat for another two years.

Jeff Losey spent election night in New Orleans, but it was Skip Novakovich who was in a reveling mood after ending Tuesday night leading the Port of Kennewick Commission race.

Kennewick councilmen Steve Young and Bob Parks appear to have held onto their positions while voters were ousting three other incumbents Tuesday in favor of Don Britain, Sharon Brown and John Hubbard.

Benton County's drop boxes will be open through 8 p.m. today at the county courthouse, 620 Market St., Prosser; the auditor's office at 5600 W. Canal Drive, Kennewick; and the auditor's office at 101 Wellsian Way, Suite E, Richland. Franklin County ballots can be dropped off at the courthouse at 1016 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today; at TRAC at 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco; and the election center at 116 N. Third Ave., Pasco.

Ballots are due Tuesday in a general election that includes two ballot measures, rare off-year state representative races in the 9th and 16th legislative districts, as well as nonpartisan races for city councils, school boards, port commissions and other local bodies.

KENNEWICK -- Getting elected to the city council or port in Kennewick is a costly venture this year, more than twice as much as it was eight years ago when there also were a large number of candidates.

Three longtime members of the Kennewick City Council face a final showdown Nov. 3 against three of the original seven challengers from the primary election.

In West Richland, two incumbents are defending their seats, and a third seat will be decided between two newcomers.

KENNEWICK -- The race for two seats on the Kennewick School Board is heating up, with one candidate calling a news conference Friday to respond to a mailer sent out in support of her opponent.

CONNELL -- Connell City Council candidate Bob Widows wants you to vote, just not for him.

OTHELLO -- Voters in Othello will pick between two councilmen for their new mayor in the Nov. 3 election.

KENNEWICK -- Incumbent Rep. Laura Grant and challenger Terry Nealey met Thursday night at the Columbia Center Red Lion Hotel in Kennewick to discuss irrigation and energy needs, among other issues.

Growth, crime and punishment have caught up with Pasco and Franklin County, say officials who want voters to approve a 0.3 percent sales tax increase on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Results from August's primary election were certified Wednesday, and with the tallies made official, no major changes were seen in any of the close races throughout the Mid-Columbia.

Republican Pat Hailey widened her lead over Democrat Glen Stockwell in the race for 9th District state representative, according to vote tallies released Friday.

Kennewick librarian Thomas Moak is banking on two decades of community leadership experience to bring him back to a fourth term on the city council.

Democrats appear to be hoping money talks as the majority party attempts to hold onto a House of Representatives seat in Eastern Washington's 16th Legislative District.

With three decades of city hall experience, Marge Price sees herself as the best qualified to return to the Kennewick City Council.

Eyes throughout the state will be turned to the 16th Legislative District this fall to see whether a relatively untested Democrat can hold the seat her father won for 11 consecutive terms.

OTHELLO -- Three longtime Othello residents are vying to be the city's next mayor.

A nurse, a teenager and a business owner are competing for West Richland City Council Position 1.

An attorney, a special education teacher and a scientist are facing off in next month's primary election for spot on the Kennewick School Board.

Taxes were at the top of the agenda at a forum for candidates running for 16th District state representative Tuesday night.

KENNEWICK -- Sam Reed wants Washingtonians to be able to vote online.

PROSSER -- Deciphering ballots can be tricky, the Benton County Canvassing Board's members discovered Monday as they pored over more than 1,000 questionable general election ballots.

Adams County residents were voting down one criminal justice sales tax measure and a second was too close to call.

Residents of both Franklin and Benton County visited their respective Auditor's offices to drop off their voting ballot for the Nov. 4, 2008 election.

The race to replace longtime Superior Court Judge Dennis Yule pits a criminal defense attorney against a civil lawyer.

Voters still have a couple of options for turning in their ballots.

HERMISTON -- Four incumbents and one newcomer are vying for four at-large positions on the Hermiston City Council.

KENNEWICK -- Benton and Franklin county auditors have asked that anyone who needs a replacement ballot for Tuesday's election to contact them as soon as possible.

PASCO -- Sen. Barack Obama would be the next U.S. president if students at Ochoa Middle School in Pasco had their way.

Janice Squires was surprised to receive a phone call this week telling her there was a problem with her ballot.