Pierce County Election Amendment, 2009
From Ballotpedia
An Pierce County Election Amendment was on the November 3 ballot in Pierce County for county voters.
The measure failed.[1]
- No: 37,045 (52.18%)
- Yes: 33,949 (47.82%)
The amendment proposed moving the election of the county auditor, assessor-treasurer and sheriff to odd-numbered years. The change would have taken effect by 2015.[2]
Court case
In August 2009, a lawsuit was filed regarding a ballot language challenge. The suit was filed by Sherry Bockwinkel, a term-limit supporter, and Kelly Haughton, a ranked choice voting supporter, in Pierce County Superior Court. Specifically, Haugton and Bockwinkel argue that the use of the words “approve” or “reject" is a departure from the more commonly used "yes" or "no" options and may cause confusion.[2]
As of September 1, 2009 a Pierce County Judge Ronald Culpepper dismissed the challenge to the ballot language describing proposed amendments to the Pierce County charter. According to Culpepper, Bockwinkel and Haughton failed to meet a deadline, a 10-day time frame, for challenging the ballot language. Both Bockwinkel said, Tuesday, that they are unlikely to appeal the judge's ruling but Haughton added that the judge's ruling was "bad public policy and that Culpepper used "procedural methods to protect a prejudicial ballot title."[3]
See also
Additional reading
References
- ↑ Pierce County Unofficial Election Results, November 3, 2009
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The News Tribune,"Suit fights Pierce County ballot language," August 22, 2009
- ↑ The News Tribune,"Judge dismisses challenge to Pierce County ballot language," September 1, 2009
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