Your voice. Your choice.

Anyone familiar with King County’s Participatory Budgeting program might already know the phrase is the official theme.

But this year, for the current Big PB Vote that’s taking place through Oct. 31, community members are voicing their choices loud and proud.

The innovative Participatory Budgeting program provides communities the opportunity to dream up projects and fund services that benefit their unique communities of Skyway, White Center, East Federal Way, East Renton and Fairwood. Community members listened, developed ideas and put the top ideas to a vote. The Big PB Vote started the beginning of this month and runs through Oct. 31. There is another week to cast your ballot in person or online here.

Community members (also known as generous volunteers) are organizing pop-up voting events at local farmers markets, libraries, grocery stores, local parks, random corners – anywhere they can find residents! Community members show up to translate information for friends and neighbors. They’re posting on social media. It’s all a big push to get out the PB vote.

And it is working.

Between Oct. 5 and Oct. 22, more than 3,000 people – yes, 3,000! – cast their vote for their preferred project, whether that’s a splash pad for kids, accessible sidewalks for all, more funding for a local community program or a class at a local family-owned business. Projects and programs like these are on the list in each community.  

“It’s been fun and interesting,” said Sarah Ho, King County Participatory Budgeting project administrator. “Sometimes people think we are talking about the Nov. 5 general election and we have to say, ‘No! That’s not us! This is for YOUR community!’”

“Then it’s all good and they want to see what’s going on and vote.”

Below is the list of local pop-up events where you’ll be able to cast your Participatory Budgeting ballot in person:

East Federal Way

  • Thursday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. –11 a.m., Federal Way 320th Library, 848 S 320th St.
  • Saturday, Oct. 26, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Federal Way Farmer’s Market, 1701 S. 320th St.
  • Sunday, Oct. 27, 2 p.m.–3 p.m., Integrity Life Church, 37603 28th Ave S

Skyway-West Hill

  • Saturday, Oct. 26, 1 p.m.–5 p.m., Skyway Library (Skyway Business District), 12601 76th Ave S
  • Sunday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Skyway Harvest Fest/Farmers Market, Skyway Fire Administration Building, 12424 76th Avenue South

White Center/North Highline

  • Thursday, Oct. 24, 2 p.m.– 6 p.m., White Center Library, 1409 SW 107th St.
  • Thursday, Oct. 31, 6 p.m.– 8 p.m., White Center Halloween Block Party, White Center Business Core

You can also vote online at publicinput.com/yourvoiceyourchoice.

Here are even more pictures of the Participatory Budgeting team out in community: