No advisory vote on your next ballot? Senate moves to abolish confusing advisory votes

SB 5082 abolishes advisory votes on ballots. Advisory votes first appeared on Washingtonian ballots after Initiative 960, backed by Tim Eyman, was approved in 2008. The initiative created a process for Washington citizens to provide an advisory vote on whether a legislative tax increase should be repealed or maintained.

Supporters of SB 5082 say that advisory votes are confusing and are worded to intentionally mislead voters while critics hold that advisory votes educate the public and allow them to have a voice in the legislative process.

The version of the bill that passed the Senate would replace advisory votes with the creation of a public website with summaries of government spending. A QR code linking to that website would be added to voter’s pamphlets.