Supreme Court allows I-1366 to stay on fall ballot

September 04, 2015

The state Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that Initiative 1366 can remain on this fall’s statewide ballot. The court said an opinion outlining the court’s reasoning would come later, but it wrote that the group suing to keep I-1366 off the ballot has “not made the clear showing necessary for injunctive relief.” Secretary of State Kim Wyman, the state’s chief elections officer, was sued by challengers who wanted her to pull the measure off the ballot. Wyman said no initiative has ever been removed from the ballot by the courts once the measure has been given a ballot title by the Attorney General, collected sufficient voter signatures and been certified by the Secretary to the ballot. Wyman said of Friday’s ruling:

“We applaud the Supreme Court’s decision that allows Initiative 1366 to remain on this fall’s statewide ballot. This decision is a win for Washington voters and our state’s initiative process. “We take no position on I-1366 or whether it is constitutional, but we are pleased that the court is not preventing a vote on it. I-1366 does not exceed the initiative powers of the people and the 339,000 voters who signed the petition to put it on the ballot. Other voters who support or oppose this initiative deserve to have their voices heard through their vote. “Our office supports the constitutional right of Washington citizens to propose and vote on initiatives. This form of ‘direct democracy’ has been a cherished right of voters here for over 100 years. Today’s ruling reaffirms that right.”

The court’s ruling: http://1.usa.gov/1EFbS1G
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