This November’s General Election ballot will include eight ballot measures. As in the past, it’s a mix of citizen’s initiatives and measures arising from specific legislation. As has also been true in the past, there’s a mix of high-visibility measures, such as R-74 (marriage for same-sex couples) and I-502 (marijuana legalization) and far more obscure constitutional amendments.
The easiest way to both check your voter’s registration and access basic information regarding all the ballot measures and officials appearing on your ballot is to use the Washington Secretary of State’s “MyVote” web site. Click here to go there. Select “My Candidates & Ballot Measures” to find your online voter’s guide.
On the MyVote web site, it is possible for you to read further about each measure. Details include an explanatory statement, fiscal impact statement, and arguments for and against each measure.
State Measures
Initiative Measure 1185
Initiative Measure No. 1185 concerns tax and fee increases imposed by state government. This measure would restate existing statutory requirements that legislative actions raising taxes must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities or receive voter approval, and that new or increased fees require majority legislative approval.
Learn more about this Tim Eyman initiative at Yes on 1185.
Arguments against the initiative may be found at Permanent Defense.
Initiative Measure 1240
Initiative Measure No. 1240 concerns creation of a public charter school system. This measure would authorize up to forty publicly-funded charter schools open to all students, operated through approved, nonreligious, nonprofit organizations, with government oversight; and modify certain laws applicable to them as public schools.
Read arguments in favor of Measure 1240 at Yes on 1240.
Read arguments against Measure 1240 at No on 1240.
Referendum Measure 74
The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239 concerning marriage for same-sex couples, modified domestic-partnership law, and religious freedom, and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill. This bill would allow same-sex couples to marry, preserve domestic partnerships only for seniors, and preserve the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform, recognize, or accommodate any marriage ceremony.
Read arguments in favor of Measure 74 at Washington United for Marriage.
Read arguments against Measure 74 at Preserve Marriage Washington.
Initiative to the Legislature 502
Initiative Measure No. 502 concerns marijuana. This measure would license and regulate marijuana production, distribution, and possession for persons over twenty-one; remove state-law criminal and civil penalties for activities that it authorizes; tax marijuana sales; and earmark marijuana-related revenues.
Read arguments in favor of I-502 at New Approach Washington.
Read arguments against I-502 at No on I-502.
Engrossed Senate Joint Resolution 8221
The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on implementing the Commission on State Debt recommendations regarding Washington’s debt limit. This amendment would, starting July 1, 2014, phase-down the debt limit percentage in three steps from nine to eight percent and modify the calculation date, calculation period, and the term general state revenues.
We could not find authoritative web sites either for or against SJR 8221. Have you found any material online you would like to share? Leave a comment below.
Senate Joint Resolution 8223
The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on investments by the University of Washington and Washington State University. This amendment would create an exception to constitutional restrictions on investing public funds by allowing these universities to invest specified public funds as authorized by the legislature, including in private companies or stock.
Read arguments in favor of SJR 8223 at Yes for Students.
We could find no authoritative web site against SJR 8223. Have you found any material online you would like to share? Leave a comment below.
State Advisory Votes
Advisory Vote 1 (Engrossed Senate Bill 6635)
The legislature eliminated, without a vote of the people, a business and occupation tax deduction for certain financial institutions’ interest on residential loans, costing $170,000,000 in its first ten years, for government spending.
Voters will be asked whether the tax increase should be repealed or maintained.
We could not find authoritative web sites either for or against ESB 6635. Have you found any material online you would like to share? Leave a comment below.
Advisory Vote 2 (Substitute House Bill 2590)
The legislature extended, without a vote of the people, expiration of a tax on possession of petroleum products and reduced the tax rate, costing $24,000,000 in its first ten years, for government spending.
Voters will be asked whether the tax increase should be repealed or maintained.
We could not find authoritative web sites either for or against SHB 2590. Have you found any material online you would like to share? Leave a comment below.
The 2012 General Election Voter’s Guide is now available online. Click here for the Voter’s Guide.
Project VoteSmart is another online resource many have found a useful reference, both in making decisions regarding ballot measures and in assessing various candidates which appear on the ballot.
