Voters

The Voter's Guide to Ballot Measures

Real Progress Means Voting On Every Issue

As a voter committed to real progress in Washington State it is important that you mark every race on the ballot, including every ballot measure. The measure you skip could be the one that makes or breaks the goal of achieving high-quality health care for all, excellence in education, real security for our most vulnerable neighbors, and a cleaner, safer environment.

The Washington Ballot Guide shows key positions that will make or impede progressive government in Washington. Our goal is to help you make an informed choice on every measure in your local area. Remember, every measure counts.

Do your part to create a state committed to real progress. Learn what measure positions define positive change in Washington today. Then vote your whole ballot on Nov. 3rd.

Statewide Ballot Measures

  • Thumbs Down

    Initiative 1033: Making Tough Times Worse

    DON'T MISS THIS. It may be on the lower left of your ballot, below the instructions.

    Tim Eyman's latest initiative would hurt our schools, make our health care crisis more severe and threaten our environment and our economy. Eyman claims his plan won't cut basic services, but the non-partisan Office of Financial Management says that I-1033 will reduce revenues for education, health care, the environment and other services by $5.9 billion over the next five years. There's no way we can lose that much funding without hurting our communities and the families who rely on these services. All we have to do is look to Colorado to see the damage I-1033 would do: a similar initiative there forced deep cuts to public schools, roads and highways and children's health care. It did so much damage to the state's economy that in 2005, Coloradans voted to suspend the law. Vote NO if you care about children's health, schools, public safety, environmental programs, parks, jobs and the future of our state.

    Opponents include: Washington Conservation Voters, Cascade Bicycle Club, Sierra Club, SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, SEIU Local 925, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW, UFCW Local 21, Washington State Labor Council, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Planned Parenthood Votes!, Washington Bus, Fuse Washington, AARP Washington, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Children's Alliance, Climate Solutions, Community Health Network of Washington, Everett Area Chamber of Commerce, Futurewise, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Group Health Cooperative, League of Women Voters of Washington, Municipal League of King County, The Nature Conservancy of Washington, One America, People for Puget Sound, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, Vancouver Area Chamber of Commerce, Washington Association of Churches, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, Washington Educational Association, American Federation of Teachers - Washington, Washington Fire Chiefs, Washington State Hospital Association, Washington State Nurses Association, AFT Washington, Washington State PTA, and League of Education Voters

  • Thumbs Up

    Referendum No. 71: Keep the Domestic Partnership Law

    Vote Approve on Referendum 71 so that registered domestic partners do not lose vital protections already passed by the legislature.

    By voting to Approve Referendum 71 you can ensure that all families in all parts of the state are treated fairly and with the same protections and responsibilities, especially in times of crisis. There are more than 12,000 people across Washington State registered in domestic partnerships. Gay and lesbian families need the domestic partnership law to provide essential protections for their families. Families with children need the protections provided by the domestic partnership law, especially when a parent dies. For seniors, domestic partnerships mean that their hard-earned Social Security, military or pension benefits are not put at risk. Vote APPROVE.

    Supporters include: Equal Rights Washington, NOW Washington Chapter, National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, Fuse Washington, Washington CAN, SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW, UFCW Local 21, M.L. King County Labor Council, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Planned Parenthood Votes!, Washington Bus, American Federation of Teachers - Washington, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of King County, Casa Latina, Central Washington Progress, Church Council of Greater Seattle, Human Rights Campaign, Japanese American Citizens League, Washington State Bar Association, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Lutheran Public Policy Network of Washington State, Minority Executive Directors Coalition, OneAmerica, Statewide Poverty Action Network, UAW Local 4121, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Washington State Nurses Association, League of Women Voters of Washington, Washington Association of Churches, Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans, Washington State Senior Citizens' Lobby, Associated Ministries of Pierce County, Washington Education Association, and the League of Education Voters

Local Ballot Measures: Seattle

  • Thumbs Up

    Seattle Proposition #1: Housing Levy

    The Housing Levy has a long track record of providing housing assistance for our most vulnerable: low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence and the homeless. A YES vote to RENEW the Housing Levy will provide 1,850 affordable homes, prevent homelessness for more than 3,000 families and individuals and renew a successful investment that creates more than 4,000 jobs and brings additional funds into our community. Renewing the seven-year levy would replace the expiring levy and cost the typical Seattle homeowner $65 per year, or $5.50 per month. In a challenging economy Proposition 1 creates housing stability and provides much-needed family wage jobs.

    Supporters include: United Way of King County, the Church Council of Greater Seattle,Washington CAN, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW, UFCW Local 21, Washington Bus, and boatloads of other unions; Common Ground; the King County Democrats and all the local Democratic districts; Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle; and more than 70 other great organizations.

Local Ballot Measures: Burien

  • Thumbs Up

    Burien Transportation Benefit District No. 1, Proposition No. 1

    The Safe Sidewalks Now plan will add miles of sidewalks and bike lanes to underserved neighborhoods in Burien. This will make getting around the community safer and healthier for all of us, whether we drive, ride transit, walk or bike. The plan will be funded by a $25 fee assessed on cars registered in Burien.

    Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, Cascade Bicycle Club, Futurewise, Transportation Choice Coalition, American Heart Association and the Coalition for the Prevention of Childhood Obesity

Charter Amendments: King County

  • Thumbs Up

    Charter Amendment #1: Been There, Done That

    Amendment #1 would remove language regarding government transitions in 1969 and 1992 that have already happened. Vote YES.

  • Thumbs Up

    Charter Amendment #2: Budget Housekeeping

    Amendment #2 removes obsolete language regarding 1960s-era budgeting and frees officials to enact, by ordinance, systems of fiscal control that respond to current needs and build upon modern budget monitoring methods. Vote YES.

  • Thumbs Up

    Charter Amendment #3: Open Charter Amendment Process

    Charter Amendment #3 clarifies language so that future Charter Commission appointees must be confirmed by the County Council, and that their proposed charter amendments are required to be considered and acted on in an open public meeting. Vote YES.

  • Thumbs Up

    Charter Amendment #4: Protect County Open Space

    Amendment #4 enables the County to designate open space as "high conservation value" properties and prohibits selling those properties without a supermajority approval by seven of nine councilmembers. Vote YES.

    Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Municipal League of King County, Cascade Land Conservancy, Mountains To Sound Greenway Trust, and Futurewise

Charter Amendments: Spokane

  • Proposition 4 - Envision Spokane

    Proposition 4 is a controversial proposition that would amend the City Charter to add a Community Bill of Rights, which contains provisions that seek to build a healthy, sustainable and democratic Spokane. The provisions attempt to establish rights to a locally based economy, affordable and renewable energy, affordable preventive healthcare, affordable housing, a healthy environment, and constitutional rights in the workplace, as well as rights to apprenticeship training and a prevailing wage on certain construction projects. The proposition also seeks to give neighborhoods the ability to veto certain development projects.

    While Proposition 4 was put together by a great set of folks and is based on an attractive vision, there are also very credible concerns being raised about the details of how its provisions are written and would be implemented. These concerns include the proposition's cost and funding, its legality and enforceability, its potential to generate extensive litigation and its delegation of power to non-elected neighborhood councils.

    Pro campaign web site: http://www.envisionspokane.org/

    Below is a pro Prop. 4 Op-Ed from the Spokesman Review:
    http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/oct/11/proposition-4-debating-the-community-bill-of/

    Below is an anti-Prop. 4 Op-Ed from the Spokesman Review:
    http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/oct/11/con-pipe-dream-discourages-investment-invites/

    Here's a link to an article covering both sides on the Inlander website:
    http://www.inlander.com/content/newscommentary_envision_spokanes_proposed_bill_rights_or_prop_4

    Supporters include: Sierra Club, Eastern Washington Voters, Spokane Regional Labor Council and several local unions, and the Spokane Homeless Coalition