West Richland library, Benton City pot measures winning with most ballots counted

Voters are favoring the West Richland library levy lift and allowing marijuana businesses in Benton City, with 97 percent of Benton County votes from the Nov. 8 election counted.

Both measures had 52 percent for and 48 percent against when the last ballot count before Nov. 21 was released Monday evening.

The vote for marijuana businesses, including selling and growing pot, was 544 to 496, a spread of 48 votes. The measure is advisory to the Benton City Council, but does not require the council to allow the businesses.

The vote favoring a new way of paying for West Richland library services was 3,576 for and 3,327 against, a spread of 249 votes.

Benton County has tabulated 81,365 ballots with an estimated 1,700 ballots to be tabulated next week.

This story was originally published November 15, 2016 at 10:28 AM with the headline "West Richland library, Benton City pot measures winning with most ballots counted."