Wash. Domestic Partnership Vote in Air

Supporters of Law Hold Narrow Lead, but Votes Still Being Counted

(AP)  Supporters of Washington's new domestic partnerships law are hoping their narrow lead holds as votes continue to be counted.

Elections officials are expected to release additional results Wednesday afternoon. As of Tuesday night, voters were narrowly approving the state's new "everything but marriage" law that marks a significant expansion of rights for gay couples.

With about 50 percent of the expected vote counted, Referendum 71 was leading 51 percent to 49 percent.

The measure asked voters to approve or reject the final expansion to the state's domestic partnership law, which grants registered domestic partners additional state-granted rights currently given only to married couples.

Read More on this issue at CBSNews.com:
Expose Signers of Anti-Gay Rights Measure?
Maine Voters Reject Gay Marriage

Meanwhile, in Seattle, environmentalist attorney Mike McGinn is holding to a slim lead over T-Mobile executive Joe Mallahan in the race to be the city's next mayor.

McGinn went ahead of Mallahan after election day's initial count. With 38 percent of the expected vote counted Tuesday night, about 84,000 votes, McGinn led Mallahan by just 910 votes.

King County officials will release more votes Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday night, McGinn was cautious about his lead, saying that elections take a long time to be decided in Washington. Mallahan said he was optimistic the remaining votes will lean his way.

In the August primary, McGinn and Mallahan outpolled Mayor Greg Nickels, a two-term incumbent, after he was dogged by criticism of the city's response to a December snowstorm that paralyzed Seattle for nearly two weeks.

CBSNews.com Election Night Coverage:

Results
All Election Night 2009 Results
Republicans Sweep N.J., Va. Gov. Races
N.Y. Democrat Owens Wins House Seat
Breckenridge, Colo., Votes to Legalize Pot

Analysis
What McDonnell's Win Means for the GOP, Obama
Corzine's Fall Has Been Festering for a While
What Doug Hoffman's Loss Means to Conservatives
Lessons for the White House from '09 Election Results
Why Christie Won in New Jersey
McDonnell Won Due to Turnout, Independents
Exit Polls in Va. and N.J.: The Obama (Non) Factor?

[averjane]

Why does it matter whose side wins, they will just come back again next year and try it again until they get what they want. Majority rule doesn't matter anymore about anything we vote on but then once they've gotten what they want, you pay Hell trying to get it overturned. I don?t' understand that. It's a continuous battle to fight this perversion that is taking over the minds of almost everyone in this nation. People are being deceived into thinking this is right because it's pumped into their homes through media and the government and permeates every aspect of our lives including those of our children who are being taught at school that this is normal and acceptable to live this way. They undermine the beliefs of many who do not condone this behavior or want it indoctrinated into the minds of their children. Everyone is free to live the way they want in this nation, leave people alone and stop forcing us and our children to embrace this doctrine you live by. When will people see how they are seducing the government to enact laws that usurp authorities over our very families and what we hold dear? We have rights as parents how we raise our children. All these special rights and laws are insane.