Backers of the Snoqualmie Valley School District were closely watching early returns this week in the run-up to the March 10 school bond vote.

As of press time, King County had received 7,427 ballots, passing the number needed to validate the measure. At least 7,254 voters were required to cast ballots in the election, with at least 4,353 voting for the bond — a 60 percent supermajority — for it to pass.

Total voter turnout was required to be at least 40 percent of ballots cast in last fall’s general election. The last general election in November had extremely high voter turnout in the Valley: 84 percent.

Last week, Valley Voters for Education set up phone banks to encourage voters to back the bond. Volunteers made around 4,000 phone calls, according to Geoff Doy, chairman for Valley Voters.

While no open opposition to the bond crystallized before the election, many district boosters worry that the down economy might cause enough voters to say ‘no’ to any new tax, even though taxes for education will decrease for Valley residents because payments on old bonds will end this year.

“What we’ve got no handle on is whether we’ve cleared that 60 percent supermajority,” Doy said. “You can say you’ve heard almost 100 percent positive responses, but maybe you just haven’t talked to the right people.”