Driven by recent legal challenges and an increase in Republican-led initiatives, Washington state Senate Democrats have introduced legislation (SB 5382) aimed at strengthening regulations surrounding the state's initiative and referendum processes. This bill seeks to enhance signature verification procedures, requiring more rigorous documentation from both signature collectors and signers.
In response to recent legal challenges and a surge of Republican-backed initiatives, Washington Senate Democrats have introduced legislation to tighten regulations on the state’s initiative and referendum processes. ( SB 5382 ) would require individuals collecting petition signatures to sign a declaration on each petition sheet that affirms, under penalty of false swearing, the following: The petitioner was eligible to sign and reviewed the sheet.
In addition, the bill requires those people signing the petition to provide their address along with a date, time and signature and the correct spelling of their name as it appears on their signature card registered with their county’s election office. It also mandates that signature gatherers affirm that signers have reviewed the petition sheet and have not received any gratuity or promise thereof. The legislation also creates added work for the secretary of state to verify addresses on the petition match the address on the voter’s registration card. Signatures would be rejected if: But the bill specifies that minor discrepancies, such as incomplete or inaccurate apartment numbers, should not lead to invalidation of a signature. The secretary of state may continue to use statistical sampling techniques for signature verification. In the 2024 case, the court concluded the secretary of state is not required to verify the addresses of registered voters who have signed initiative and referendum petitions, as this is neither a constitutional nor statutory requirement. (A PDF of the “slip opinion” in this case can be viewed The court suggested that any changes to this procedure should be enacted by the Washington State Legislature or through administrative rulemaking. The 2024 election cycle saw an influx of Republican-backed initiatives, some of which were met with disapproval from Democratic lawmakers. For instance, measures targeting the capital gains tax, air pollution emissions (the Climate Commitment Act) and long-term care services were among those that advanced to the November ballot. SB 5382 had its first public hearing Tuesday.
Initiative And Referendums Washington State Legislature SB 5382 Campaign Finance Political Process Election Laws Republican Initiatives Democratic Response
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Washington House Democrats Propose Rent Stabilization BillWashington State House Democrats have reintroduced a bill aimed at stabilizing rent prices and enhancing tenant protections. The bill, HB 1217, seeks to cap annual rent increases at 5% statewide and implements various measures to safeguard tenants from unfair rent hikes and eviction.
Read more »
Washington Democrats Propose Expanding Hate Crime Laws to Include Perpetrator's PerceptionSeveral House Democrats in Washington are pushing to broaden the state's hate crime laws to encompass situations where the perpetrator acts based on their perceived characteristics of the victim, even if those perceptions are inaccurate. The proposed legislation aims to ensure that crimes motivated by bias are adequately addressed and punished, regardless of whether the victim's actual identity aligns with the perpetrator's assumptions.
Read more »
Washington Democrats Propose Unemployment Benefits for Illegal ImmigrantsWashington State Democrats are facing criticism for proposing legislation that would extend unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants. Supporters argue it promotes equity and economic stability, while opponents claim it rewards unlawful behavior, strains public resources, and undermines the integrity of the immigration system.
Read more »
Mississippi Lawmakers Propose Stricter Rules on Taser Use by PoliceTwo Democratic lawmakers in Mississippi have introduced bills to tighten the use of Tasers by police officers following a joint investigation by Mississippi Today and The New York Times that exposed lax oversight and instances of dangerous use across the state. The bills face significant challenges in a Republican-controlled legislature, but they highlight growing concerns about police use of Tasers and the need for stricter regulations.
Read more »
Washington state lawmakers propose requiring speed limiting devices in cars of drivers with speeding historyA bill introduced in the Washington state legislature would force drivers with a history of speeding to have a speed limiting device put on their cars.
Read more »
Washington Lawmakers Propose Bill for Fashion Industry SustainabilityWashington state lawmakers have introduced the Washington Fashion Sustainability Accountability Act, aiming to increase transparency and reduce the environmental impact of the fashion and footwear industry. The bill requires companies to disclose information about harmful chemicals, inventory management, and efforts to minimize environmental damage. Larger companies would also need to report on greenhouse gas emissions, recycled content, and working conditions.
Read more »