It's raining initiatives ...

June 24, 2010

As we've noted, the initiative process is alive and well in Washington, with little apparent "chilling" due to the state's policy of releasing signatures of signers. (The U.S. Supreme Court has just held the disclosure policy in an 8-1 ruling written by the chief justice.) We've seen a record number of initiatives filed this year (75 initiatives to the people and 4 initiatives to the Legislature), and we're seeing turn-ins with very large numbers of signatures, nearly 400,000 in one estimate.

The campaign for Initiative 1098 (income tax on high-wage earners and reduction in some state taxes) have just scheduled an appointment at the state Elections Division in Olympia for 9 a.m., next Thursday, July 1, to turn in signatures. Campaign director Sandeep Kaushik estimates they will be turning in about 325,000 signatures. July 2 at 5 p.m. is the deadline for initiative campaigns to submit signatures. It takes about 242k valid signatures of registered Washington voters to get on the fall statewide ballot. The Elections Division always recommends bringing in at least 300,000, to cover duplicates and invalid signatures. This is the fourth initiative to schedule a turn-in. Backers of I-1100, a measure to privatize liquor sales, turned in what they estimated at nearly 400,000 signatures on Wednesday. The petition sheets are being processed by the state Archives. The measure is expected to qualify for a 3 percent random check of signatures in early July. Two others are with appointments on deadline day are I-1107, rolling back new taxes on pop, bottled water, candy and other products, turning in at 8:30 a.m.; and I-1082, allowing private carriers to compete with the state workers’ compensation insurance program, 11:30 a.m., on July 2.

(html)

Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs

Connect with Us

OSOS Websites

About this Blog

The Washington Office of the Secretary of State’s blog provides from-the-source information about important state news and public services.

This space acts as a bridge between the public and Secretary Steve Hobbs and his staff, and we invite you to contribute often to the conversation here.

Comments Disclaimer

The comments and opinions expressed by users of this blog are theirs alone and do not reflect the opinions of the Secretary of State’s Office or its employees. The agency screens all comments in accordance with the Secretary of State’s blog use policy, and only those that comply with that policy will be approved and posted. Outside comments will not be edited by the agency.