Washington "Protect the Initiative Act", Initiative 517 (2013)

Washington Initiative 517
Type	Initiative to the Legislature
Origin	Citizens
Topic	Direct democracy
Status	Defeated d

Washington "Protect the Initiative Act," Initiative 517, was on the November 5, 2013 ballot in Washington as an Initiative to the Legislature. It was defeated.

The measure would have implemented penalties for intimidating, harassing, interfering with or retaliating against petition drive efforts for a ballot initiative. The measure was sponsored by Tim Eyman.

In addition, the measure would have required that all initiative efforts that obtained the valid amount of signatures have their proposals placed on the ballot.

Other provisions included:

• Limited pre-election legal challenges: If any initiative, including those at the local level, received enough signatures, it was automatically placed on the ballot. Any legal challenges to the measure would have had to wait until after the election.

• Extending the time given for signatures to be collected for the ballot: At the time the ballot initiative was introduced, measures had to be filed with the secretary of state within 10 months before the election at which the measure would be voted on. I-517 would have changed the number to 16 months, allowing citizens an extra six months to collect signatures.

Election results

Below are the official election results. Washington is a mail-in ballot state and does not have polling places. All ballots postmarked November 5 were counted. Results were certified on November 26, 2013 by the Secretary of State.

Initiative 517
Result		Votes	Percentage
d No		1,058,572	62.71%
Yes		629,584	37.29%

These results are from the Washington Office of the Secretary of State.

Text of measure

Ballot text

The following was the ballot text on file with the Washington Secretary of State's office:

“

Initiative Measure No. 517 concerns initiative and referendum measures. This measure would set penalties for interfering with or retaliating against signature-gatherers and petition-signers; require that all measures receiving sufficient signatures appear on the ballot; and extend time for gathering initiative petition signatures. Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]

”

Summary

The following was the ballot measure summary of the proposal:

"This measure would define terms concerning interfering with or retaliating against petition-signers and signature-gatherers, and would make such conduct a criminal misdemeanor and subject to anti-harassment laws. The measure would require that all state and local measures receiving enough signatures be placed on the ballot, limiting pre-election legal challenges. The measure would also extend the time for filing initiatives and gathering signatures from ten to sixteen months before the election when the vote would occur."

Full text

The full text can be read below:

Initiative Measure No. 517 filed April 5, 2012

Protect the Initiative Act: Establishes protections for citizens who participate in the initiative and referendum process

AN ACT Relating to establishing protections for citizens exercising their First Amendment rights by participating in the initiative and referendum process; amending RCW 9A.84.030 and 29A.72.030; adding new sections to chapter 29A.72 RCW; creating new sections; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

POLICIES AND PURPOSES

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The people want to ensure their right to participate in the initiative and referendum process is protected. Citizens’ participation in the legislative process by initiative and referendum has been subjected to hostility, interference and threats of interference and retaliation by private and governmental actions. As promised by the Washington state Constitution: “The first power reserved by the people is the initiative.”

Article I, section 4 of the Washington state Constitution and the First Amendment to the United States Constitution recognizes the right of the people to petition the government. This act is intended to protect the rights provided by these constitutional provisions. This measure would establish protections for citizens exercising their First Amendment rights by participating in the initiative and referendum process. The people find that citizens’ right to participate in the initiative and referendum process needs to be protected.

ESTABLISHING PROTECTIONS FOR CITIZENS EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS BY PARTICIPATING IN THE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PROCESS

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 29A.72 RCW to read as follows:

This section establishes protections for signature gathering for any state or local initiative or referendum. Interfering with signature gathering shall be illegal. Any person who is gathering signatures for an officially filed and processed initiative or referendum shall not have his or her right to petition deterred or infringed upon. Any person who is trying to sign a petition for an officially filed and processed initiative or referendum shall not have his or her right to sign a petition deterred or infringed upon. Any person who interferes with any person gathering signatures or interferes with any person trying to sign a petition or retaliates against or stalks any person who signed a petition or retaliates against or stalks any person who gathered signatures for a petition shall be subject to the anti-harassment procedures in chapter 10.14 RCW and civil penalties and shall be guilty of disorderly conduct under RCW 9A.840.030. For purposes of this section, “interfering with” includes, but is not limited to, pushing, shoving, touching, spitting, throwing objects, yelling, screaming, or being verbally abusive, or other tumultuous conduct, blocking or intimidating, or maintaining an intimidating presence within twenty-five feet of any person gathering signatures and any person trying to sign a petition. As the courts have consistently ruled, the signing of a petition and the collection of voter signatures is core political speech, which is deserving of the highest levels of protection. Signature gathering and petition signing for an officially filed and processed initiative or referendum shall be a legally protected activity on public sidewalks and walkways and all sidewalks and walkways that carry pedestrian traffic, including those in front of the entrances and exits of any store, and inside or outside public buildings such as public sports stadiums, convention/exhibition centers, and public fairs.Law enforcement must vigorously protect the rights of the people who want to sign initiative and referendum petitions, and the people who collect voter signatures on initiative and referendum petitions, to ensure they are not inhibited or restricted in any way.

The people find that they must be able to safely, freely, and peacefully petition their government for change without fear of intimidation or retaliation. Without the right to petition and the right to sign petitions, there is no functioning initiative and referendum process. Maximum legal protections must be afforded persons gathering signatures and persons trying to sign petitions to protect them from interference, harassment, threat, or retaliation. Maximum penalties must be imposed against persons who interfere with the constitutionally protected right to initiative and referendum.

Sec. 3. RCW 9A.84.030 and 2007 c 2 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A person is guilty of disorderly conduct if the person:

(a) Uses abusive language and thereby intentionally creates a risk of assault;

(b) Intentionally disrupts any lawful assembly or meeting of persons without lawful authority;

(c) Intentionally obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic without lawful authority; ((or))

(d)(i) Intentionally engages in fighting or in tumultuous conduct or makes unreasonable noise, within five hundred feet of:

(A) The location where a funeral or burial is being performed;

(B) A funeral home during the viewing of a deceased person;

(C) A funeral procession, if the person described in this subsection (1)(d) knows that the funeral procession is taking place; or

(D) A building in which a funeral or memorial service is being conducted; and

(ii) Knows that the activity adversely affects the funeral, burial, viewing, funeral procession, or memorial service; or

(e) Interferes with or retaliates against a person collecting signatures or signing any initiative or referendum petition by

pushing, shoving, touching, spitting, throwing objects, yelling, screaming, being verbally abusive, blocking or intimidating, or other tumultuous conduct or maintaining an intimidating presence within twenty-five feet of any person gathering signatures or any person trying to sign any initiative or referendum petition.

(2) Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor.

GUARANTEEING THE PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO VOTE ON INITIATIVES THAT SUBMIT SUFFICIENT VALID VOTER SIGNATURES

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.

A new section is added to chapter 29A.72 RCW to read as follows:

Any state or local initiative for which sufficient valid voter signatures are submitted within the time period required must be submitted to a vote of the people at the next election date. The people are guaranteed the right to vote on any initiative that obtains the required number of valid voter signatures in the required time frame. Government officials, both elected and unelected, must facilitate and cannot obstruct the processing of any initiative petition and must facilitate and cannot obstruct the public vote of any initiative. For local initiatives, government officials must, in all circumstances, strictly comply with the requirements of this act for any initiative regardless of its subject matter. The term “local legislative authority” must be construed to include the people via local initiative regardless of the subject matter of the ballot measure. Citizens have just as much right to decide issues with local initiatives as governments do. This section may not be construed in any way to impede the right to legal review of the sufficiency of valid voter signatures or post-election legal review; however, under no circumstances may an initiative be prohibited from submission to the people for a vote if sufficient valid voter signatures are submitted.

PROTECTING CITIZENS’ RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE BY EXTENDING THE TIME FOR SIGNATURE GATHERING ON INITIATIVES, DETERRING INTERFERENCE IN THE SIGNATURE GATHERING PROCESS

Sec. 5.

RCW 29A.72.030 and 2003 c 111 s 1804 are each amended to read as follows:

Initiative measures proposed to be submitted to the people must be filed with the secretary of state within ((ten)) sixteen months prior to the election at which they are to be submitted (this act’s amended change from ten months to sixteen months for filing an initiative provides up to six more months for initiative signature gathering), and the signature petitions must be filed with the secretary of state not less than four months before the next general statewide election. Initiative measures proposed to be submitted to the legislature must be filed with the secretary of state within ((ten)) sixteen months prior to the next regular session of the legislature at which they are to be submitted (this act’s amended change from ten months to sixteen months for filing an initiative provides up to six more months for initiative signature gathering), and the signature petitions must be filed with the secretary of state not less than ten days before such regular session of the legislature.

A referendum measure petition ordering that any act or part of an act passed by the legislature be referred to the people must be filed with the secretary of state within ninety days after the final adjournment of the legislative session at which the act was passed. It may be submitted at the next general statewide election or at a special election ordered by the legislature. A proposed initiative or referendum measure may be filed no earlier than the opening of the secretary of state’s office for business pursuant to RCW 42.04.060 on the first day filings are permitted, and any initiative or referendum petition must be filed not later than the close of business on the last business day in the specified period for submission of signatures. If a filing deadline falls on a Saturday, the office of the secretary of state must be open for the transaction of business under this section from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on that Saturday.

Opponents of ballot measures sometimes try to interfere with the signature gathering process in the final months of the campaign, taking advantage of the limited time for the collection of signatures. The people find that allowing more time for citizens to participate in the signature gathering process will deter such despicable tactics.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.

The provisions of this act are to be liberally construed to effectuate the intent, policies, and purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.

This act shall be self-executing. If any part or parts of this act are found to be in conflict with federal law, the United States Constitution, or the Washington state Constitution, the act shall be implemented to the maximum extent that federal law, the United States Constitution, and the Washington state Constitution permit. Any provision held invalid shall be severable from the remaining portions of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8.

This act is called "Protect the Initiative Act."

Fiscal impact

According to the official statement put out by the Washington Office of Financial Management, "I-517 has no revenue, expenditure or cost impact on state government. There is no revenue impact on local governments from I-517. However, the expenditure and cost impacts to local governments are indeterminate."

Support

The measure was sponsored by Tim Eyman. The campaign that supported the measure was run by Yes on 517.

Supporters

• State Senator Ann Rivers (R-18)

Arguments

The arguments presented in favor of Initiative 517 in the official voter guide were constructed by supporters of I-517, including: Shawn Newman, Washington Director of Initiative and Referendum Institute, attorney; Erma Turner, who testified in Olympia against the bullying of petition-signers; Nick Sherwood, who had numerous red-light camera initiatives blocked from votes; Stonewall Jackson Bird, whose Bellingham initiative was blocked from a public vote; Eddie Agazarm, a veteran petitioner, initiative organizer and civic activist; Paul Jacob, president of Citizens In Charge and longtime initiative activist. The arguments included:

• "Opponents of initiatives too often use bullying to prevent citizens from signing initiatives they support. Voters who want to sign a petition – liberal or conservative – deserve protection from bullying and retaliation. I-517 establishes penalties to discourage such bad behavior. Peaceful discussion is legal under I-517; bullying is not."

• "Initiative 517 makes citizen participation safer and guarantees the people’s right to vote on initiatives. Without I-517, entrenched politicians and special interests will continue bullying citizens from expressing their free speech rights and blocking voters from exercising their initiative rights."

• "I-517 “Protect Your Right To Vote On Initiatives” is about Letting the People Vote on...qualified initiatives. In recent years, 16+ citizen-sponsored initiatives – liberal and conservative – were blocked from a public vote by powerful special interests even though local citizens followed all the rules. I-517 establishes a new state law that prevents interference by special interests, guaranteeing the people’s right to vote. If the initiative qualifies, let the voters decide."

• Rebuttal of Argument Against: "Even our opponents agree I-517 protects free speech and encourages more grassroots participation by making the initiative process more affordable. Regarding petitioning, I-517 simply reinforces what the courts have already said: petitioning at places open to the public is guaranteed under the First Amendment. Without I-517, initiative opponents will continue bullying, preventing citizens from expressing themselves and voting on issues they care about. Protect your right to speak out and vote on initiatives – vote yes!"

Other arguments for the measure included:

• According to Yes on 517's campaign website, among other arguments in favor of the measure, "Collecting signatures on initiative petitions is protected by our state and Federal Constitutions. The First Amendment says the people are guaranteed the right to “petition their government.” Nonetheless, people who collect voter signatures are regularly harassed. I-517 sets penalties for anyone who interferes with or retaliates against signature-gatherers or petition-signers. I-517 makes it safe for people to exercise their right to participate in the initiative process."

• The Yes on I-517 dismissed the opposition's concerns regarding private property rights, saying, "I-517 supports democracy, promotes respectful speech, and stops bullying. I-517 would deter initiative opponents from doing this [harassment]. The courts have already ruled that signature collection, including on sidewalks and walkways, is subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions and I-517 doesn't change that. It simply discourages bullying. I-517 doesn't say that initiative bullies have to stand 25 feet away; it simply says if they maintain a presence within 25 feet of the signature gathering process, they need to be civil and respectful."

Official I-517 petition

Noteworthy events

In March 2013 the Public Disclosure Commission announced an investigation into complaints that the initiative's supporters violated campaign finance laws. The complaint alleged that the campaign did not register on time and failed to deliver timely and detailed financial reports. The complaint was filed by Sherry Bockwinkel, a former director of a signature-gathering company.

Campaign contributions

The "No" campaign outraised the "Yes" campaign by $296,704 or 196%. The "No" campaign outspent the "Yes" campaign by $296,173 or 196%. Up to October 30, 2013, all contributions to the "Yes" campaign were in-kind. This data was obtained from the Public Disclosure Commission and was current as of October 30, 2013. The following were committees registered in support of Initiative 517:

PAC info:

PAC	Amount raised	Amount spent
Protect Your Right to Vote on Initiatives	$305,454	$305,454
Yes on I-517	$2,885	$2,885
Total	$308,339	$308,339

Total campaign cash as of October 4, 2013
Support:	$308,339
Opposition:	$620,043

Top 4 contributors:

Donor	Amount
Citizens in Charge	$182,806
Peoples Petitioning LLC	$42,712
Edward Agazarm	$13,886
American Voter Drives	$11,332

Sponsor

The sponsor of the measure, Tim Eyman, is a prominent political activist in the sate of Washington. After launching his first initiative in 1997, Eyman has been involved in sponsoring and/or promoting several dozen ballot measures in the state. He is an advocate for small government, and many of his initiatives involve lowering taxes and protecting taxpayers. Of initiatives, Eyman has said, "Initiatives aren’t just about passing laws, they’re about lobbying your elected officials for policies that you want. And like all lobbying, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes the people are asking for something the city council just can’t give them. But, that’s not an excuse to prevent them from asking. That is simply squelching their First Amendment right." In 2008, a feature length documentary film called The Battles of Tim Eyman was released. The film follows the "notorious tax rebel" as he addresses political issues in the state.

Opposition

The campaign in opposition to the measure was No on I-517.

Opponents

The following were opponents listed on the website of No on I-517:

Officials

• State Representative Sam Hunt (D-22b)
• Former State Representative Marcie Maxwell (D-41a)
• Rob McKenna (R), Former Washington State Attorney General
• Ralph Munro (R), Former Secretary of State of Washington
• Sam Reed (R), Former Secretary of State of Washington
• Brian Sonntag (D), Former Washington State Auditor

Organizations

• 26th District Democrats
• 29th District Democrats
• 34th District Democrats
• 36th District Democrats
• 41st District Democrats
• 45th District Democrats
• 46th District Democrats
• Action Solutions
• Association of Washington Business
• Avista
• First and Goal, Inc.
• Greater Spokane Incorporated
• King County Democrats
• Kitsap County Democrats
• Mainstream Republicans of Washington
• Northwest Grocery Association
• Northwest Progressive Institute
• Safeway
• Seattle Seahawks
• Seattle Sounders FC
• Skagit County Democrats
• Snohomish County Democrats
• Spokane Home Builders Association
• Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce
• Transition 2030
• Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Washington State Democratic Party
• Washington Food Industry Association
• Washington Retail Association
• Whatcom County Democrats
• Whatcom County Young Democrats

Businesses

• Safeway
• Kroger
• Wal-Mart
• Lowe’s Home Improvement
• Autozone
• Recreational Equipment Inc.
• First & Goal

Arguments

The arguments presented in opposition to Initiative 517 in the official voter guide were constructed by opponents of I-517, including: Rob McKenna, former Washington State Attorney General; Brian Sonntag, former Washington State Auditor; Jan Gee, Washington Food Industry Association (independent/ family-owned grocers); Frank Ordway, League of Education Voters; Andrew Villeneuve, activist and founder of the Northwest Progressive Institute. The arguments featured included:

• "I-517 violates Washingtonians' property rights: Courts have ruled that petitioners must respect private property rights when collecting signatures, but I-517 prevents property owners from having control over signature gathering on their property, infringing upon their constitutionally-guaranteed property rights. Under I-517, law enforcement would be directed to vigorously protect petitioners collecting within a twenty-five foot zone. Business owners would not be able to stop aggressive petitioners from blocking and harassing customers who are trying to enter or exit a store. Instead, their property rights would be disregarded."

• "I-517 would make petitioning more intrusive: I-517 allows out of state petitioners to be active in Washington year-round – both inside and outside public buildings. Petitioners could go inside sports stadiums like Safeco Field or Comcast Arena, public libraries, and even public school events like high school football games to ask Washingtonians to sign stacks of petitions."

• "I-517 benefits Tim Eyman: Sponsor Tim Eyman is a full-time initiative proponent who makes money off the measures he promotes. Under I-517, it would be easier and cheaper for Eyman to qualify future initiatives to the ballot, meaning he could double his output and increase his profits."

• Rebuttal of Argument For: "Former Secretary of State Sam Reed said that most complaints received in his office were from citizens and businesses who were being harassed by signature gatherers and that laws already exist to protect signature gatherers’ safety. Local governments should not be forced into costly legal battles when an initiative is found to be unconstitutional. Former Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge says I-517 is unconstitutional as it takes away private property rights of others. Vote No."

Other arguments against the measure included:

• On July 8, 2013, Assistant Director of Policy for the Secretary of State’s Office Katie Blinn, said, "We do receive many calls each spring from voters who are complaining about signature gatherers harassing them, and signature gatherers misstating the text of the measures. We also receive inquiries from store owners/managers asking how they can remove the signature gatherers from their property."

• Jan Gee, of the Washington Food Industry Association, argued that the measure violates stores' private property rights because it makes it a crime to harass canvassers or disrupt them.

• Steve Gano, a lobbyist for Wal-Mart, argued that customers deserve protection from petitioners who are harassing them.

• The No on I-517 campaign said, "Initiative 517 takes away the right of customers to enter and exit a retail store without the interference of a petition signature gatherer. The store owner will no longer have the right to control this activity and provide a safe and enjoyable experience for customers on their private property within a 25ft. buffer of the signature gatherer. Further, public sports stadiums including high school stadiums, convention centers and other facilities that host public events are also stripped of their rights to provide a safe and orderly environment within this 25ft. buffer zone protecting signature gatherers. Property owners and people attempting to shop and attend public events should not be stripped or their rights to say NO to a signature gatherer and voters should say NO to I-517."

Campaign contributions

Shaded map of donations by county

The "No" campaign outraised the "Yes" campaign by $296,704 or 196%. The "No" campaign outspent the "Yes" campaign by $296,173 or 196%. This data was obtained from the Public Disclosure Commission and was current as of October 31, 2013. The following were committees registered in opposition to Initiative 517:

PAC info:

PAC	Amount raised	Amount spent
No I-517	$611,942	$596,410
Stop Tim Eyman's Profit Machine: No on 517	$8,101	$8,101
Total	$620,043	$602,511

Top 5 contributors:

Donor	Amount
Washington Retail Association	$105,000
Safeway	$103,000
Washington Food Industry Association	$80,350
Kroger	$78,000
Wal-Mart	$50,000

Media editorial positions

See also: Endorsements of Washington ballot measures, 2013

Support

• Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal said, "I’ve always been a strong supporter of the initiative process and will be voting for I-517 because I think it’s just common sense to preserve one of the few hammers citizens have to make Olympia listen."

Opposition

• The Seattle Times said, "It reads as if Tim Eyman wrote it to expand his initiative-manufacturing industry... The state, at times, has been well-served by initiative s, because those measures pushed lawmakers to recognize the will of the people. But it should be a tough process. This initiative doesn’t come close. Vote no on I-517."
• The Columbian said, "While the initiative process is vital to a thriving democracy, Initiative 517 would go too far in expanding protection for signature gatherers at the expense of other's rights. We urge a "no" vote on this statewide ballot measure."
• The Olympian said, "The measure is misleadingly titled “Protect the Initiative Act,” because the name implies there is some threat to our well-functioning initiative process. That is not the case. Popular, well-organized statewide initiatives almost always make it on to general election ballots... Don’t be fooled. Initiative entrepreneur Eyman uses I-517 to pose imaginary concerns, and then overreaches for unnecessary solutions. It serves only his personal interests. Vote no."
• The Spokesman-Review said, "Vote no. This Tim Eyman favorite infringes on private property rights, hands special rights to petition gatherers and removes the discretion of cities in how they deal with questionable initiatives."
• Tri-City Herald said, "If you propose an initiative that the people want, they will put their signatures on the list. They will seek it out. It doesn't have to be rammed down their throats. As it is, voters sometimes sign a petition just to get out of the uncomfortable cross-hairs of a petition advocate. Providing further routes for aggressive signature gatherers to bully folks into signing something they might not fully understand would just make things worse."
• The News Tribune said, "The right to petition the government is a vital one. But all rights have limits. I-517 overreaches, giving signature gatherers privileges that infringe on those of private property owners and the public."
• The Wenatchee World said, "First Amendment rights are for all, signature seekers no more than others. Vote no."
• The HeraldNet said, "Think metaphorically. I-517 is 90 percent pig, 10 percent lipstick. The pig (substitute your least-favorite barnyard critter) is an invasive beast who tramples over property and can't be challenged. I-517 permits paid signature gatherers to accost citizens inside public facilities such as Woodland Park Zoo, Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field. The sanctuary of the downtown Everett Public Library? You'll need to navigate the gantlet."
• Longview Daily News said, "Among other things, I-517 would force local governments to put measures on the ballot if they receive enough signatures, even if they appear to be illegal. This would only add to the expense of futile elections and cities’ legal costs of defending measures that eventually get thrown out by a judge. Though I-517 includes some good ideas, it goes too far and we suggest a “no” vote."
• The Stranger said, "And I-517 is Eyman's most self-serving initiative yet: It makes it cheaper and easier for him to run even more initiatives!... It's stupid, it's unnecessary, and it will just lead to more stupid, unnecessary Eyman initiatives making it onto your ballot. Vote no on I-517."

Polls

See also: Polls, 2013 ballot measures

• A survey by Elway Poll conducted September 3-5, 2013, found that 19% would "definitely" vote for the amendment, 39% would "probably" vote for it, 22% would vote against it and 20% were undecided. A total of 406 likely voters were polled with margin of error at +/-5%.

Washington Initiative 517 - Support v. Opposition
Poll	Support	Opposition	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Moore Information (October 23-24, 2013)	33%	40%	27%	+/-4	500
Elway Poll (September 3-5, 2013)	58%	22%	20%	+/-5	406
AVERAGES	45.5%	31%	23.5%	+/-4.5	453
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

On September 10, 2013, The Elway Poll put out the following information regarding the two Washington 2013 Initiatives to the Legislature:

Path to the ballot

See also Initiatives to the Legislature in Washington

In 2013, a total of 246,372 signatures were needed to place a measure before the Washington Legislature. If the legislature does not enact a measure, it is then sent to the ballot. The deadline for the submission of those signatures to the Washington Secretary of State was January 4, 2013.

The Washington Secretary of State's office reported that supporters submitted about 345,000 signatures on January 3, 2013. The secretary of state then began the process of determining how many signatures were valid.

Signature verification begins as Elections Division worker checks signatures for I-517

On January 23, 2013, the Washington Secretary of State's office stated that the initiative cleared signature verification, sending the proposal to the state legislature. In addition to enacting it or sending it to the ballot, the legislature can also send the measure to the ballot with a competing measure. This would allow voters to choose which of the two measures to approve.

The initiative was approved by the Senate Committee on Governmental Operations on February 19 and passed to the Rules Committee.

The 2013 state legislative session ended on April 28, 2013, with no resolution from the legislature, therefore the measure went before voters in the 2013 general election.

Signature collection costs

See also: 2012 ballot measure petition signature costs

• Signatures to qualify I-517 for the ballot were collected by various groups, including Peoples Petitioning LLC, Citizens in Charge and American Voter Drives.

• The CPRS for I-517 - given that $305,454 was spent on signatures versus a minimum requirement of 246,372 signatures - came to $1.24 per required signature.

• In 2012, the average CPRS in Washington was $4.80.

See also

Suggest a link

• 2013 ballot measures
• Washington 2013 ballot measures
• List of Washington ballot measures

External links

• Initiative Measure No. 517
• Yes on I-517
• No on I-517
• Yes on I-517 Facebook
• 2013 Informed Voter Guide