SEATTLE (AP) — King County Executive Dow Constantine will open the county Recorder's Office in Seattle early — just after midnight — on Dec. 6 to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Constantine says he'll be waiting to sign the first license, making King County the first jurisdiction in the nation to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, based on voter approval.

Voters in Washington, Maryland and Maine all approved gay marriage initiatives last week, but laws in Maryland and Maine will not take effect until January.

Once they have their license in hand, all couples in Washington still have to wait three days for a marriage ceremony.