The initiative and referendum process, authorized under the Washington State Constitution (art. II § 1), provides for four types of statewide ballot measures:
- Initiatives to the people;
- Initiatives to the Legislature;
- Referendum measures; and
- Referendum bills.
Initiatives and referendum measures are submitted to the Secretary of State’s office.
There are restrictions on the use of public facilities related to ballot measures. Elected officials and city staff should understand Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) guidelines before participating in any elections activities, including the process for taking a position on a ballot measure.
More information
Learn what officials can and cannot do.
See a complete listing of the PDC Guidelines for Local Government Agencies in Election Campaigns.
Questions? Please contact the PDC or consult your jurisdiction’s legal counsel.
Background information
Initiatives to the people
These initiatives are filed within ten months before the next general election in November and must gather signatures of registered voters by petition by a deadline each year in July (four months before the election). If certified to have sufficient signatures, initiatives are submitted for a vote of the people at the next state general election. The Office of Financial Management (OFM) is responsible for developing fiscal impact statements for the voter’s pamphlet for initiatives that have qualified for the ballot.
A number of initiatives that may impact cities are currently gathering signatures. July 5, 2019 is the deadline to submit signatures for initiatives to the people, and sponsors must submit approximately 260,000 valid signatures to qualify for the November 2019 ballot.
Initiatives to the Legislature
These initiatives must be filed at least 10 days prior to the start of the legislative session in January with sufficient signatures of registered voters.
If certified to have sufficient signatures, the Legislature may take three possible actions:
- Pass the initiative without amendment and it becomes law;
- Pass an alternative, in which case both the original and the alternative measures are submitted for a vote of the people at the next state general election; or
- Take no action and the original proposal is submitted for a vote at the next general election.
During the course of the legislative session, initiatives undergo a process similar to other legislation, which may include lobbying and may involve hearings in legislative committees.
For the 2019 session, January 4 was the deadline to submit signatures for initiatives to the Legislature, and sponsors must submit approximately 260,000 valid signatures.
Referendum measures
These are laws recently passed by the Legislature that are placed on the ballot if petitions with a sufficient number of signatures by voters are filed within 90 days of the end of the legislative session.
For 2019, July 27 is the deadline for submitting signatures, and sponsors must submit approximately 130,000 valid signatures to qualify for the November 2019 ballot.
Referendum bills
These are ballot measures that the Legislature has passed and referred to voters at the next general election.
2018 initiatives to the people
I-1631: Clean air clean energy
I-1634: Taxation of groceries
I-1639: Gun violence prevention
2018 initiatives to the legislature
I-940: Law enforcement training and community safety
AWC’s role
AWC does not take positions for or against any ballot initiative. AWC’s role is to provide our members with educational materials that can be shared with elected officials, staff, and the community. Additionally, please review the PDC’s guidelines for elected and appointed officials' participation in ballot proposition activity.