King County Elections would continue to provide a countywide Video Voters Guide as an online and televised companion to the printed voters’ pamphlet, under legislation introduced Friday, May 1 by Metropolitan King County Councilmember Jane Hague.

“Staying informed about the issues and candidates is one of the biggest challenges facing voters,” said Hague, who represents Bellevue. “With the Video Voters Guide, voters will be able to hear equally from challengers and incumbents with a few clicks of the mouse or TV remote.”

Councilmember Hague served as Manager of King County Records and Elections from 1986 to 1993. During her time as manager, the county started sending election pamphlets to voters for primary elections in King County.

The proposed ordinance would require the Director of Elections to partner with the city of Seattle on production of the popular program, and institutionalize the program in county code.

King County and Seattle have partnered on the Video Voters Guide (VVG) in odd-numbered years since 1993. The County Elections Director, who is now separately elected, had proposed dropping the county’s participation in the project as a cost-saving measure. The city of Seattle is moving ahead with its plans for a citywide version.

The countywide VVG includes statements from candidates for King County government, the Port of Seattle Commission, and from backers of countywide measures. The Seattle version provides statements from candidates for city of Seattle government, the Seattle School Board, and backers of citywide measures. Nineteen such races are set for the 2009 election.

On cable TV the VVG is available to approximately 425,000 King County households through an array of local and regional government access channels, including King County TV, the Seattle Channel, and many municipal stations. It is also distributed through many libraries.

The online version of the VVG draws the most users by far of any single program posted on the King County TV web site.