USD 418 Bond Passes on Fourth Attempt as Voter Opposition Declines
Yes votes nearly doubled since 2021 while no votes dropped by roughly half
MCPHERSON, Kan. — Tuesday's passage of the USD 418 bond marked a dramatic reversal from three previous defeats. In June 2021, voters rejected a $112 million proposal by roughly 2-to-1, with approximately 2,500 no votes to 1,200 yes votes. A narrower proposal failed in May 2023 by approximately 186 votes, and a November 2023 attempt fell short by 255 votes, with 2,259 against and 2,004 in favor.
The 2026 results flipped the margin that sank the first attempt. Yes votes on Question 1 reached 2,290, nearly double the approximately 1,200 who voted in favor in 2021, while no votes fell from roughly 2,500 to 1,313. Total turnout remained similar, but in 2021 no voters outnumbered yes voters by about 2-to-1. Five years later, yes voters outnumbered no voters by nearly that same ratio.
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