In Washington State, we’re fortunate to have the Initiative process (also known as a ballot measure). When our elected officials fail to pass needed legislation, we the people have the power to pass our own laws.
There are two types of initiatives:
- To the Legislature and
- To the People
Whole Washington has filed both an Initiative to the People and Initiatives to the Legislature. While there are strategic considerations to both approaches, we tend to favor the Initiative to the Legislature as it allows for a longer signature gathering window during moths with better weather.
Timeline
- Filing: Typically March at the earliest
- Signature collection: Begins approximately a month after filing and lasts the rest of the year
- Deadline to turn in signatures: Usually 5pm on December 30th
Required Number of Signatures
The required number of signatures is based on 8% of the turnout of the most recent gubernatorial election.
- To qualify, we must have at least 308,912 valid signatures from registered voters.
- It's recommended that we submit at least 400,000 total signatures to account for invalid signatures.
What Happens If We Make the Required Number
Once a sufficient number of signatures have been verified there are a few ways things can play out next.
- The initiative is referred to the legislature who may choose to pass it as written early in the following year
- The legislature may choose to refer the initiative to the following year's ballot for voters to decide (this is what usually happens)
- If taken to the ballot, the legislature may choose to put a competing measure on the ballot (voters may choose between both versions)
This will be an intense but finite campaign. Ready to join us? We intend to make healthcare history.