Eric K. Nelson of Duvall has been elected as a member of the King Conservation District board of supervisors following a final canvassing of votes in a milestone Internet-based election ending Tuesday. The results follow completion of the final voter signature reconciliation.

The vote tallies for elected board position No. 2 included: Nelson (1,292); Douglas “Bruce” Elliott, Kent (820); Teri Herrera, Redmond (129); Preston Prudente of Sammamish (54), and four write-in votes.

In one of the first elections of its kind in the U.S., King Conservation District’s 30-day, online election began Feb. 15. The district also provided an “in-person” voting option at the district’s offices on the final day of the election.

The unofficial election results from the district-wide election will be certified by the Washington Conservation Commission at its business meeting on May 16.

Nelson, who will serve a three-year term, will be sworn in at the King Conservation District board of supervisors meeting in June.

The KCD encompasses most of King County and delivers natural resources information and technical and funding assistance for stewardship efforts by landowners. It is one of 46 conservation districts in Washington State.

The election was conducted for the King Conservation District through election supervisor Election Trust (Bellevue) and Scytl USA (Washington, D.C.).

“The 2011 election was an important building block for future online elections held by the district,” said Bill Knutsen, chairman of the King Conservation District board of supervisors. “In the long term, we believe online voting remains the best option to broaden voter participation in the King Conservation District election process.”

Knutsen said providing a secure voting process in this pioneering Internet-based election was an important goal from the beginning.

“We understand the two-step process of confirming a voter’s eligibility, followed by voting, was a new experience for voters participating in their first

online election,” Knutsen said. “In the end, the process provided the best means for election security and integrity.”

For more information on the election and the King CD, visit www.kingcd.org.

King CD board members

The all-volunteer, five-member board includes three elected members and two appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. All supervisors serve three-year terms. As public officials, their responsibility is to ensure that the King CD meets its legal and public trust obligations. The board of

supervisors conducts regular public meetings to oversee the district’s budget and provide policy guidance and oversight to district staff.

About the King CD

The King CD provides information and funding and technical assistance to landowners within the district’s boundaries on a voluntary, non-regulatory basis. King CD programs are hands-on, site specific, action and results oriented; and the district initiates community outreach activities that include workshops, education programs, site visits, farm plans and consultation on land, water, and wildlife management.