Key Findings

House Bill 2529 and Senate Bill 6503 would ban the people’s right to vote on initiatives and referendums in odd-numbered years. Bill sponsors say they want to ban the people’s right to vote on initiatives and referendums in odd-numbered years because of lower voter turnout. The bills, however, would still allow local government officials to hold special elections to raise taxes without restriction in all years. It is difficult to see why it would be acceptable to allow tax increases to appear on the ballot in odd-numbered years while denying Washingtonians their constitutional right to vote on initiatives and referendums in those same years. Testifying on the proposal, Secretary Wyman noted the bills would limit the people’s right of initiative and referendum and could add to voter fatigue by causing exceedingly long ballots.

Introduction

Two bills have been proposed that would prohibit the right of the people to vote on initiatives and referendums in odd-numbered years. Although House Bill 2529 and Senate Bill 6503 would ban the people’s right to vote on initiatives and referendums in odd-numbered years, they still would allow local government officials to hold special elections to raise taxes without restriction in all years.

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