Updated vote returns Wednesday afternoon for the South Kitsap School District bond election to build a second high school in Port Orchard is showing the measure inching closer to a supermajority approval of 60 percent.

As of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, the vote tally was  59.22 percent for approval and 40.78 percent rejecting the bond measure. The bond needs a 60-percent supermajority for a pass.

Prior to the initial election returns, co-chair of the bond committee, Tiffany Wilhelm, said the group was feeling hopeful.

“Voter turnout has been incredible, even higher than it was in February,” Wilhelm said.

The voter turnout is posted at 49 percent, which Wilhelm said for a special election is “phenomenal.”

“We were seeing posts of the fire department being jammed with people dropping off their ballots,” she said.

The vote totals will be officially certified May 6, but updates are expected from Kitsap County Elections Division Thursday and Friday.

“We are still staying positive,” Wilhelm said. “If you remember from February, the numbers kept moving farther forward in our favor.”