With slightly over 32 percent of ballots counted in Island County early Wednesday, the amendment allowing future school levies to be approved with a simple majority vote is falling to defeat here and statewide.

In Island County, 7,254 voters — 54.5 percent — said “no” to the amendment. Across Washington, 51 percent of voters were rejecting the measure.

The closest race on South Whidbey is turning out to be the battle for fire commissioner in Fire District 3, Position 2. Kenon Simmons was leading by 105 votes in early returns, edging opponent Gary Gabelein with 51.8 percent of the vote.

In Langley, incumbent Councilman Jim Recupero will return to the council for another term. Recupero was leading challenger Craig Moore early Wednesday with 59 percent of the vote, 118 votes to 80.

For the District 3 position on the board of commissioners for the Whidbey Island Public Hospital District, Ron Wallin had a large lead over challenger

Bert Speir with 58 percent of the vote. Wallin was ahead, 4,852 votes to 3,487, in early returns. The winner will replace incumbent Barbara Saugen, who did not seek re-election.

Beyond the local races, one of the most watched ballot items was the amendment to allow a simple majority vote on school levies.

On Feb. 19, the South Whidbey School District plans to ask voters to pass three levies covering maintenance, operations, capital improvements and transportation.

Failure of the amendment during Tuesday’s election means the district must get over 60 percent of the vote.

School board president Rich Parker was surprised at the initial results.

“I saw a state poll indicating the vote would be 60/40 with no serious opposition,” he said. “But with the new absentee mailing system, maybe it’s too soon to tell. Could be a ‘Dewey Wins’ scenario.”

Parker was referring to the famous 1948 photo of a victorious President Harry Truman holding up a Chicago newspaper headline trumpeting his opponent’s election.

Parker added that typically the most conservative voters mail their ballots early and things might change.

Voters were approving four of the other five ballot initiatives, according to early statewide vote tallies.

Referendum 67, which would apply financial penalties on insurance companies who unreasonably deny or delay paying claims, was passing with 56 percent of the vote.

Initiative 960, requiring two-thirds legislative approval or voter approval for tax increases, legislative approval of fee increases, certain published information on tax-increasing bills, and advisory votes on taxes enacted without voter approval, was passing statewide and in Island County. I-960 had received 56 percent of the vote in early returns.

An amendment to require the Legislature to transfer 1 percent of general state revenues to a budget stabilization account each year and prohibit expenditures from the account except as set forth in the amendment was on its way to passage, with 68 percent of voters saying “yes” to the proposal.

Joint Resolution 8212 authorizing state-operated inmate labor programs and programs in which inmate labor is used by private entities through state contracts was passing with 60 percent of the vote.

Resolution 4215 authorizing the investment of money in higher education permanent funds as permitted by law, and permitting investment in stocks or bonds issued by any company, was ahead in early returns, with a 53 percent “yes” vote statewide.