Washington Initiative 1639, Changes to Gun Ownership and Purchase Requirements Measure (2018)

Elections in Washington, 2018

• General election: Nov. 6
• Voter registration deadline: Oct. 8 (mail or online), or Oct. 29 (in-person)
• Early voting: N/A
• Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6

• Online registration: Yes
• Same-day registration: No
• Voter ID: N/A (Washington conducts all elections by mail)
• Poll times: N/A

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On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • State Senate • State House • Supreme court • Appellate courts • Local judges • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • Municipal • Recalls • Primaries in Washington, 2018

Washington Initiative 1639
Election date November 6, 2018
Topic Firearms
Status a Approved
Type State statute	Origin Citizens
List of Washington measuresWashington Initiative 940Washington Initiative 1631Washington Initiative 1634Washington Initiative 1639Washington Advisory Vote 19Submit

Washington Initiative 1639, the Changes to Gun Ownership and Purchase Requirements Measure, was on the ballot in Washington as an Initiative to the People, a type of initiated state statute, on November 6, 2018. It was approved.

A yes vote supported the ballot initiative to implement restrictions on the purchase and ownership of firearms including raising the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21, adding background checks, increasing waiting periods, and enacting storage requirements.

A no vote opposed the ballot initiative to implement restrictions on the purchase and ownership of firearms including raising the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21, adding background checks, increasing waiting periods, and enacting storage requirements.

Aftermath

Initiative to repeal

See also: Washington Repeal Restrictions on the Sale of Semiautomatic Firearms Initiative (2020)

An initiative targeting the 2020 ballot designed to repeal certain provisions of Initiative 1639 was filed in September 2019.

Sheriffs not enforcing I-1639

• Republic, Washington Police Chief Loren Culp proposed on the police department's Facebook page and later to the city council what he called a "Second Amendment Sanctuary City Ordinance" that would make I-1639 considered null and void by the City of Republic. Culp also said, "As long as I am Chief of Police, no Republic police officer will infringe on a citizens right to keep and bear arms, PERIOD!"
• Other sheriffs that noted their opposition to the initiative and stated they would not be enforcing it include sheriffs in Spokane, Chelan, Stevens, Douglas, Benton, Adams, and Lewis counties.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson's letter to sheriffs not enforcing I-1639

On February 14, 2019, Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) issued an open letter to sheriffs and police chiefs who have said they would not enforce I-1639. Following is an excerpt of the letter:

“

Numerous sheriffs and police chiefs have stated that they will not implement or enforce the initiative.... Like all laws passed by the people of Washington and their representatives, Initiative 1639 is presumed constitutional. No court has ruled that this initiative is unconstitutional. Local law enforcement officials are entitled to their opinions about the constitutionality of any law, but those personal views do not absolve us of our duty to enforce Washington laws and protect the public. If you personally disagree with Initiative 1639, seek to change it. Or file a lawsuit challenging it. But do not substitute your personal views over that of the people. As public officers, our duty is to abide by the will of the people we serve, and implement and enforce the laws they adopt. I encourage you to do so.

”

The full letter can be found here.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson's FAQ document on I-1639

On March 4, 2019, Attorney General Bob Ferguson released a Frequently Asked Questions document on Initiative 1639 and sent it to Washington sheriffs. The FAQ document dealt with the effective dates of initiative provisions, the requirements regarding enforcement of the initiative, the effect of pending lawsuits against the initiative, and details about the initiative's provisions. The document can be read below:

House Bill 2103 by Rep. Matt Shea (R-4A) to repeal I-1639 (not passed)

Republican Representative Matt Shea introduced House Bill 2103 to repeal I-1639. The bill was read for the first time on February 20, 2019, and was referred to the Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary, but it failed to proceed in the legislative process before the legislature adjourned its 2019 session. To read the text of HB 2103, click here.

Shea said "Initiative 1639 is unconstitutional in many respects and punishes law-abiding citizens, while doing nothing to keep firearms away from criminals. We live in a Republic, not a Democracy. A Republic is based on the rule of law which means every law that is passed must be constitutional. It is very clear this initiative is not, and thus the reason for the repeal."

Lawsuit to overturn I-1639

Opponents of I-1639, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) filed a lawsuit against the state of Washington and Attorney General Bob Ferguson in U.S. District Court in Seattle on November 15, 2018. The plaintiffs alleged that the measure violates the right to bear arms and wrongly regulates interstate commerce, which is under the jurisdiction of the federal government. The lawsuit specifically challenged the provisions relating to (1) the increased age requirement and (2) sales to people from out-of-state. Plaintiffs sought to have the above-mentioned provisions ruled unconstitutional and to block enforcement of the entire measure unless and until those provisions are deemed severable and are blocked.

The NRA lawsuit was refiled with Ferguson removed as a defendant. New defendants in the lawsuit include the Spokane police chief and Clark County Sheriff.

On May 20, 2019, the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington rejected a request by the state to dismiss the case, allowing the lawsuit to continue.

On August 31, 2020, Judge Ronald Leighton ruled upheld Initiative 1639 as constitutional. Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation, said the group would appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit.

Election results

Washington Initiative 1639
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		1,839,475	59.35%
No		1,259,681	40.65%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Overview

Measure design

Initiative #1639 was designed to implement restrictions on the purchase and ownership of firearms. These restrictions include background checks, storage requirements, and waiting periods for purchasing semiautomatic assault rifles, as well as increasing the minimum age to buy semiautomatic assault rifles to 21.

Section 13 of the measure, which establishes age requirements, took effect on January 1, 2019. The rest of the measure's provisions were set to take effect on July 1, 2019.

Lawsuits

Three lawsuits were filed against the initiative: one lawsuit filed by the National Rifle Association (NRA) challenged the ballot title and summary, which resulted in the title and summary being re-written. Another lawsuit that sought to keep the initiative from securing a place on the ballot was dismissed. A lawsuit was filed shortly after the initiative was certified on July 27, 2018 alleging that the ballot language and petition format did not meet statutory requirements and, therefore, that the obtained signatures were invalid and the measure should be stricken from the ballot. On August 17, Thurston County Superior Court Judge James Dixon ruled in favor of the NRA, removing the measure from the ballot. The Alliance for Gun Responsibility, proponents of the initiative, filed a notice of appeal with the Washington Supreme Court. On August 24, 2018, the Washington Supreme Court reversed the lower court's ruling, allowing the initiative to stay on the November 2018 ballot.

Campaign finance

One committee was registered to support this initiative: Safe Schools Safe Communities. The committee reported a total of $5.55 million in contributions and $5.68 million in expenditures. The top donor was Paul Allen, who gave a total of $1.25 million.

Four committees were registered to oppose the measure: Save Our Security No on I-1639, Washingtonians and the National Rifle Association for Freedom 2018, and, Mary's Pistols, and Stop 1639 Sponsored by Shall Not Be Infringed. Together, the committees had raised $763,794 and had spent $949,555.

Measure design

Initiative #1639 was designed to implement restrictions on the purchase and ownership of firearms. These restrictions include background checks and waiting periods for purchasing semiautomatic assault rifles―as defined by the initiative—as well as increasing the minimum age to buy semiautomatic assault rifles to 21. The measure was also designed to establish requirements for storage of all firearms. Section 13 of the measure, which establishes age requirements, took effect on January 1, 2019. The rest of the measure's provisions were set to take effect on July 1, 2019.

Definition of semiautomatic assault rifle

Semiautomatic assault rifle is defined in the measure as follows:

“

Any rifle which utilizes a portion of the energy of a firing cartridge to extract the fired cartridge case and chamber the next round, and which requires a separate pull of the trigger to fire each cartridge. "Semiautomatic assault rifle" does not include antique firearms, any firearm that has been made permanently inoperable, or any firearm that is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action.

”

Background checks and firearm purchase requirements

Under the measure, no dealer may deliver a semiautomatic assault rifle to a purchaser until:

• The purchaser provides proof that they have completed a recognized firearm safety training program in the last five years including instruction on basic firearm safety, secure gun storage, the safety of children and firearms, suicide prevention, safe handling, and state and federal firearm law; and
• The dealer is notified in writing by the chief of police or sheriff in the jurisdiction of the purchaser's residence that the purchaser is eligible to own a firearm and that the application to purchase is approved. Under the measure, the chief of police or sheriff must use the national instant criminal background check system established under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and other databases and information centers to determine whether a person is eligible to possess a firearm.

While the following has been codified in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) regarding pistols, this measure was designed to expand the law to include all firearms and semiautomatic assault rifles as well as pistols:

• If an applicant has an outstanding warrant for their arrest from any court for a felony or misdemeanor, a dealer must hold the delivery of pistols and semiautomatic assault rifles until the warrant is served and satisfied by a court appearance.
• If a police chief or sheriff has reasonable grounds based on open criminal charges, pending criminal proceedings, or outstanding warrants, and if the records have not been reported or entered sufficiently to determine whether or not the person is eligible to purchase a firearm, the local jurisdiction or state may hold the sale and delivery of a firearm for up to thirty (30) days to verify records.
• An applicant for the purchase of a firearm must sign and deliver an application to the dealer which includes the applicant's name, address, date of birth, race, gender, driver's license number or state ID number, a description of the firearm and manufacturer's number.

Under the measure, the application to purchase a firearm must include the following warning:

“

CAUTION: The presence of a firearm in the home has been associated with an increased risk of death to self and others, including an increased risk of suicide, death during domestic violence incidents, and unintentional deaths to children and others.

”

In the Revised Code of Washington, a signed application to purchase a pistol constitutes a waiver of confidentiality so that any inquiring court or law enforcement agency may request a mental health institution or other health care facility to release information relevant to a person's eligibility to purchase a pistol. The measure would expand this provision to include the application for and purchase of semiautomatic assault rifles.

Firearm purchase fee

Under the measure, the department of licensing may require the dealer to charge each purchaser or transferee a fee of not more than $25.00 to fund the state, mental health institutions, and local law enforcement for the cost of meeting their obligations under the measure.

Waiting periods

Under the measure, a dealer could not deliver a semiautomatic assault rifle to a purchaser until ten business days have passed from the date of the application for purchase.

Firearm storage requirements

Under the measure, a person who left a firearm in a place where a prohibited person (someone who is prohibited from firearm possession under state or federal law) could potentially gain access to the firearm would be guilty of community endangerment, a class C felony, if a prohibited person gained access to the firearm. Under the measure, when selling a firearm, every dealer is required to offer to sell or give the purchaser a gun storage device such as a trigger lock designed to stop unauthorized use of the firearm. Under Washington law, a class C felony is punishable by a sentence of five years in a state correctional institution, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

Required sign for firearms retailers

Every place where firearms are sold is required to display the following sign, in block letters (capitalized) and at least one inch in height:

“

WARNING: YOU MAY FACE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION IF YOU STORE OR LEAVE AN UNSECURED FIREARM WHERE A PERSON WHO IS PROHIBITED FROM POSSESSING FIREARMS CAN AND DOES OBTAIN POSSESSION.

”

Under the measure, businesses that fail to post the required sign would be guilty of a class 1 civil infraction and could be fined up to $250.

Age requirements

Under the measure, a person under 21 years of age could not purchase a pistol or semiautomatic assault rifle. Persons between the ages of 18-21 would be able to possess a pistol or semiautomatic assault rifle under the following conditions:

• in the person's residence,
• in the person's fixed place of business,
• on real property under the person's control,
• or for the specific purpose of moving to a new place of residence, traveling to and from the allowed locations, and selling or transferring the firearm in accordance with other provisions.

Text of measure

The original ballot title and summary for this measure were altered following a lawsuit brought by the National Rifle Association challenging the original ballot title written by the attorney general, arguing that it was misleading and inadequate. Following are the final title and summary.

Ballot title

The ballot title for the initiative was as follows:

“

Initiative Measure No. 1639 concerns firearms. This measure would require increased background checks, training, age limitations, and waiting periods for sales or delivery of semiautomatic assault rifles; criminalize noncompliant storage upon unauthorized use; allow fees; and enact other provisions. Should this measure be enacted into law?

”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for this initiative was as follows:

“

This measure would require increased background checks, firearm safety training, and waiting periods before semiautomatic assault rifles may be purchased or delivered. It would impose age limitations on who may purchase or possess certain firearms, including prohibiting firearm purchases by persons under age 21. It would require certain secured firearm storage or trigger-locks, and criminalize certain firearm storage if it results in unauthorized use. It would enact other firearm-related requirements, including certain warnings, recordkeeping, and fees.

”

Explanatory statement

The explanatory statement from the Washington 2018 Voters' Guide was as follows:

The Law as It Presently Exists Washington law requires background checks for the sale or transfer of firearms, with exceptions. This background check requirement applies to sales and transfers of firearms through firearms dealers, at gun shows, online, and between unlicensed private individuals. This requirement applies to most sales of firearms, as well as gifts or loans of firearms. The background check includes checking with federal and state agencies for criminal convictions, pending criminal charges or warrants, and certain mental health records. A sale or transfer of a firearm cannot take place if the background check shows that the buyer or recipient is legally ineligible to possess it. The sale or transfer of a firearm may be completed if the result of a background check is not received within 10 business days. That 10 day period is extended to 60 days if the buyer or recipient does not have a valid permanent Washington driver’s license or state identification card, or has not lived in Washington for at least 90 days. It is a felony to deliver a firearm to any person reasonably believed to be prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. The delivery of a pistol may be restricted based on an outstanding warrant for a buyer’s arrest or certain other charges or proceedings that might be pending against the buyer. Certain recordkeeping requirements apply to the sale of a pistol that do not apply to other types of firearms. A licensed firearm dealer must report to the state the buyer’s name, address, and other information. The state maintains records of the sales of pistols. The state does not maintain records of other transfers or a registry of firearms. State law requires that an application for the purchase of a pistol contain a warning about the possibility of criminal prosecution for the illegal possession of firearms, and that state and federal laws regarding possession of firearms differ. State law makes it illegal to possess some kinds of firearms. These include machine guns, short-barreled shotguns, and short-barreled rifles. Machine guns include firearms that do not require a separate trigger pull for each shot, and can store ammunition in a separable device such as a clip that can fire at the rate of five or more shots per second. There are exceptions to this prohibition. State law prohibits certain people from possessing firearms. A person convicted of certain crimes or found not guilty by reason of insanity is ineligible to possess a firearm. The entry of a civil commitment order based on mental health also makes a person ineligible to possess a firearm. The entry of restraining orders for harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child may make a person ineligible to possess a firearm under some circumstances. Firearm rights can be restored under some circumstances. People between the ages of 18 and 21 are generally allowed to possess a pistol only in their residence, their place of business, or property under their control. A person under age 18 is generally prohibited from possessing a firearm. State law allows a person under age 18 to possess a firearm only under limited circumstances. These exceptions include, among others: while attending a firearms safety course, while practicing or target shooting at an approved range, while competing in an organized competition, while hunting with a valid hunting license, or in certain instances with parental permission. Residents of other states may purchase rifles and shotguns in Washington if they are eligible to possess such weapons under federal law and the laws of both Washington and the state in which they reside. Nonresidents are subject to the same background check requirements that apply to Washington residents. State law does not currently require firearms safety training to possess a firearm. Hunter safety training may be required to obtain a hunting license. State law does not specifically regulate firearms storage. The Effect of the Proposed Measure if Approved This measure would change state laws regarding firearms. Some of these changes would relate only to semiautomatic assault rifles, as defined. Other changes would apply to other types of firearms as well. The initiative defines a “semiautomatic assault rifle” to mean: any rifle which utilizes a portion of the energy of a firing cartridge to extract the fired cartridge case and chamber the next round, and which requires a separate pull of the trigger to fire each cartridge. The initiative defines semiautomatic assault rifles not to include antique firearms, permanently inoperable firearms, or any firearm that is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action. This initiative would add new requirements for the purchase of a semiautomatic assault rifle. Buyers would be required to provide proof that they have completed a recognized firearm safety training program within the past five years. That training program must include instruction on: Basic firearms safety rules; Firearms and children, including secure gun storage and talking to children about gun safety; Firearms and suicide prevention; Secure gun storage to prevent unauthorized access and use; Safe handling of firearms; and State and federal firearms laws, including prohibited firearms transfers. This initiative would make it illegal for a person under 21 years of age to buy a pistol or semiautomatic assault rifle. It would make it illegal for any person to sell or transfer a semiautomatic assault rifle to a person under age 21. The initiative would prohibit a person between the ages of 18 and 21 from possessing a semiautomatic assault rifle except in the person’s residence, fixed place of business, on real property under his or her control, or for other specified purposes. The initiative would require a dealer to wait at least 10 days before delivering a semiautomatic assault rifle to a buyer. It would also prohibit anyone who is not a resident of Washington from buying a semiautomatic assault rifle in Washington. The initiative would change some laws that currently apply only to pistols and apply them to both pistols and semiautomatic assault rifles. These include restrictions on delivery when a buyer has an outstanding warrant for his or her arrest. This would also be true for situations in which certain charges or proceedings are pending. Background check and record keeping requirements that currently apply only to the purchase of pistols would also apply to the purchase of semiautomatic assault rifles. The same requirements for collecting and maintaining information on purchases of pistols would apply to purchases of semiautomatic assault rifles. The initiative would require a new warning on application forms for the purchase of a pistol or semiautomatic assault rifle. This new warning would read: CAUTION: The presence of a firearm in the home has been associated with an increased risk of suicide, death during domestic violence incidents, and unintentional deaths to children and others. The initiative would allow the state to impose a fee of up to $25 on each purchaser of a semiautomatic assault rifle. This fee would be used to offset certain costs of implementing the initiative. The fee would be adjusted for inflation. The initiative would create new criminal offenses for the unsafe storage of a firearm if a person who cannot legally possess a firearm gets it and uses it in specified ways. These crimes would apply to a person who stores or leaves a firearm in a place where the person knows, or reasonably should know, that a prohibited person may gain access to the firearm. Failure to securely store a firearm would only be a crime if certain other events happen. A person who fails to securely store a firearm would be guilty of a felony if a person who is legally ineligible to possess a firearm uses it to cause personal injury or death. A person who fails to securely store a firearm would be guilty of a gross misdemeanor if a person who is legally ineligible to possess a firearm discharges it, uses it in a way that shows intent to intimidate someone or that warrants alarm for the safety of others, or uses the firearm in the commission of a crime. The initiative would not mandate how or where a firearm must be stored. But it would provide that the crimes regarding unsecure storage would sometimes not apply. Those crimes would not apply if the firearm was in secure gun storage, meaning a locked box, gun safe, or other locked storage space that is designed to prevent unauthorized use or discharge of a firearm. The crimes also would not apply if the firearm was secured with a trigger lock or similar device that is designed to prevent the unauthorized use or discharge of the firearm. The crimes would not apply if the person who gets the firearm is ineligible to possess it because of age but the access is with parental permission and under adult supervision. The crimes would not apply in cases of self-defense. Finally, the crimes would not apply if the person who is ineligible to possess a firearm obtains it through unlawful entry, if the unauthorized access or theft is reported to law enforcement within five days of the time the victim knew or should have known that the firearm had been taken. The initiative would require every firearm dealer to offer to sell or give the purchaser or transferee of any firearm a secure gun storage device or trigger lock. It would also require every store, shop, or sales outlet where firearms are sold to post a warning sign advising buyers that they may face criminal prosecution if they store or leave an unsecured firearm where a person prohibited from possessing the firearm can get it. A similar written warning must be delivered to firearm buyers and transferees. Violation of these requirements would be a civil infraction. Finally, the initiative would require the development of a cost-effective and efficient process to verify that people who have acquired pistols or semiautomatic assault rifles remain eligible to possess a firearm under state and federal law. This process would provide for notice to local chiefs of police and sheriffs to take steps to ensure that persons legally ineligible to possess firearms are not illegally in possession of firearms.

Full text

The full text of the measure can be accessed here.

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2018

Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The Washington Attorney General wrote the ballot language for this measure. The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 12, and the FRE is 26. The word count for the ballot title is 45, and the estimated reading time is 12 seconds. The FKGL for the ballot summary is grade level 15, and the FRE is 24. The word count for the ballot summary is 77, and the estimated reading time is 20 seconds. In 2018, for the 167 statewide measures on the ballot, the average ballot title or question was written at a level appropriate for those with between 19 and 20 years of U.S. formal education (graduate school-level of education), according to the FKGL formula. Read Ballotpedia's entire 2018 ballot language readability report here.

Support

Safe Schools Safe Communities, also called Yes On I-1639 led the campaign in support of this initiative.

Supporters

• The Alliance for Gun Responsibility
• Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson

The following organizations and individuals have endorsed the Yes On I-1639 campaign:

Organizations Everytown for Gun Safety Our Revolution Faith Action Network Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle Newtown Action Alliance Temple De Hirsch Sinai Youth Theatre Northwest President & CEO, Vets Place Northwest March For Our Lives Seattle AFT Washington Vets Place Northwest The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence Moms Rising Greater Seattle Business Association Choose 180 Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii Washington Education Association Navos The Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics League of Women Voters of Washington Grandmothers Against Gun Violence Safe and Sane Skagit Thurston Gunsense Elected officials Manka Dhingra, State Senator, 45th LD Adam Smith, U.S. Representative, 9th CD Sasha Bentley, State House of Representatives Candidate 14th LD, Position 1 Reuven Carlyle, State Senator, 36th LD Adam Cornell, Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Candidate Noel Frame, State Representative, 36th LD Jamie Pedersen, State Senator, 43rd LD Tana Senn, State Representative, 41st LD Bill Ramos, State House of Representatives Candidate 5th LD, Position 1 Mona Das, State Senate Candidate, 47th LD Laurie Dolan, State Representative, 22nd LD Beth Doglio, State Representative, 22nd LD Drew Hansen, State Representative, 23rd LD Jake Fey, State Representative, 27th LD Joe Fitzgibbon, State Representative, 34th LD Connie FitzPatrick, State House of Representatives Candidate 26th LD, Position 1 Mia Gregerson, State Representative, 33rd LD Karen Keiser, State Senator, 33rd LD Nicole Macri, State Representative, 43rd LD Kay Murano, State House of Representatives Candidate 6th LD, Position 1 Gerry Pollet, State Representative, 46th LD Larry Springer, State Representative, 45th LD Derek Stanford, State Representative, 1st LD Amy Walen, Mayor of Kirkland

Arguments

• The Alliance for Gun Responsibility argued, "In Washington, it is currently easier to buy an assault weapon than it is to purchase a handgun because assault weapons are treated the same as hunting rifles. This must change."

• Renée Hopkins, CEO of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, said, “Gun violence is an avoidable epidemic and is far too common in our country and state. Too many people have lost their lives to violence; too many families, children, and communities are rattled to the core. The people of Washington—from the kids marching for their lives, to their parents and grandparents who are calling their elected officials– demand action NOW.

• Bob Ferguson said, "I’m deeply committed to this and, in general, to having common sense gun reform laws in our state. It’s outrageous what we have, it’s deeply disappointing to me that our state Legislature won’t address these issues in a forthright manner, and if that means we have go directly to the people to get these changes, then I’m behind it.”

Safe Schools Safe Communities featured the following arguments on its website:

“

Semi-automatic assault rifles are designed to kill as many people as possible in a matter of seconds. In mass shootings where such weapons are used, 135% more people are shot and 57% more are killed. Because these guns are so lethal, putting commonsense measures in place to ensure they don’t fall into dangerous hands is an evidence-based approach to reducing gun violence. Raising the age to purchase from 18 to 21 to match our rules for handguns just makes sense. Studies show that people 18 to 21 years of age commit a disproportionate number of firearm homicides in the United States. Dangerous Access Prevention incentivizes secure storage by creating criminal liability, depending on the severity of the incident, if a child or other prohibited person accesses and uses an unsecurely stored firearm to hurt themselves or someone else. Research shows access to a firearm in a moment of crisis can be the difference between life and death. In the almost 20 years since Columbine, more than 200,000 students have experienced gun violence at school. In cases where the source of the gun could be determined, more than 80% of shooters brought them from their own home or from the home of friends or relatives, and seven-in-ten of these shooters were under 18.

”

Official arguments

Following are the official arguments in support of Initiative 1639 included in the Washington Voters' Guide for the 2018 general election.

These arguments were prepared by Paul Kramer, a survivor of the Mukilteo shooting; Ola Jackson, a student at Rainier Beach High School; Chris Reykdal, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction; Regina Malveaux, a member of the Washington State Women’s Commission and CEO of YWCA Spokane; Mitzi Johanknecht, King County Sheriff; and Matt Vadnal, a Mill Creek resident and Colonel of the United States Army Reserve.

Yes on I-1639: For Safer Schools and Communities Five of the last six school shooters used an assault weapon; 80% of school shooters obtained guns from their own home or that of a relative or friend. Over 187,000 students have experienced school gun violence since 1999. Deadly shootings, including Parkland, Las Vegas, Orlando, and even Mukilteo, involved assault weapons. Enough is enough. We need to get serious about keeping firearms, especially assault weapons, out of the wrong hands. Assault Weapons are Made to Kill Assault weapons are not designed for hunting or protecting families from danger; they are military-grade weapons designed to kill large numbers of people. These weapons belong in the hands of trained experts, not people who might harm others. Commonsense Reforms In the U.S. military, soldiers are not allowed to handle firearms without training. Yet, anyone in Washington can buy militarygrade weapons without training or additional screening. This measure prevents anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing a semi-automatic assault rifle. It requires additional background checks and mandatory training so people who buy these weapons use them safely. I-1639 requires securing these and other deadly weapons, reducing how easily kids and prohibited users can access them. We Must Act to Reduce Gun Violence No law will stop every person intent on committing violence, but we must do something. Reducing access to assault weapons and ensuring those who do own assault weapons have safety training is a commonsense reform we urgently need. Rebuttal of argument against: The gun lobby has a long track record of trying to convince Washingtonians there's nothing we can do to stop the plague of gun violence. They are wrong. This common sense measure requires the same standards for purchasing semi-automatic assault rifles that are already required for handguns. It will not affect law-abiding, responsible gun owners, rather, it will establish common sense safeguards to help prevent dangerous, unlawful access to firearms.

Campaign advertisements

Yes on I-1639 released the following video:

Title: "Initiative 1639: A Backpack for Saving Lives"

Opposition

Decline to Sign 1639, also called Save Our Security No on I-1639, led the campaign in opposition to the measure.

Opponents

• The National Rifle Association
• The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
• The Second Amendment Foundation
• Washington Arms Collectors

Arguments

• The NRA said, "Initiative 1639, filed by Michael Bloomberg’s front group, the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, is an egregious attack on Second Amendment freedoms and comes just months after failing to enact their gun ban agenda in Olympia. Please spread the word to your family, friends, and fellow gun owners about this latest attack on self-defense rights in the Evergreen State! Help protect Second Amendment rights in Washington and decline to sign this initiative petition."

• Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, said, "This measure treats all gun owners, especially young adults, like criminal suspects. In short, Washington prides itself for being against discrimination, except when it comes to gun ownership. Then principle is sacrificed for political correctness, and social prejudice becomes acceptable."

Official arguments

Following are the official arguments in opposition to Initiative 1639 included in the Washington Voters' Guide for the 2018 general election.

These arguments were prepared by State Rep. Brad Klippert (R-8A), a former deputy sheriff; Jane Milhans, a home invasion survivor and women’s self-defense trainer; Keely Hopkins, state director of the National Rifle Association; Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation; Robin Ball, “Refuse to Be a Victim” Instructor; and State Rep. Brian Blake (D-19).

I-1639 Removes Rights from Law-Abiding Adults Washington’s law-abiding adults aged 18-20 are responsible enough to vote, purchase a home, and serve in our military. Yet I-1639’s proponents want you to believe these same adults cannot be trusted to defend themselves or their families and are attempting to use the crimes of a few as a justification to curtail the rights of hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians. I-1639 Makes Firearms Unavailable for Self-Defense I-1639 would require gun owners to lock up their firearms or face criminal charges. This strict mandate renders firearms useless in self-defense situations by requiring them to be locked up. The United States Supreme Court invalidated a similar law as a violation of the Second Amendment, but I-1639’s proponents are nonetheless seeking to create this unconstitutional requirement in Washington. I-1639’s Misguided Approach Will Not Impact Crime Handguns- not rifles- are used in the majority of crimes committed with a firearm in Washington. Targeting rifle ownership will only restrict law-abiding adults from accessing them for self-defense, home protection, and hunting. I-1639 is Another Extreme Seattle Agenda that Fails to Improve Safety I-1639 is bankrolled by a handful of Seattle billionaires that are more concerned with pushing failed California-style gun control than finding real solutions to make our schools and communities safe. This 33-page initiative requires firearm registration, waiting periods, mandatory government training, firearm storage requirements, purchase tax, and more- none of which will stop criminals or protect our Washington schools. Rebuttal of argument for: I-1639 is not about “assault weapons”. I-1639 targets all semiautomatic rifles, including hunting rifles and target shooting rifles. These are not fully automatic military grade weaponsthese are commonly owned rifles used for self-defense, home protection and hunting. I-1639 places Washingtonians at risk by restricting access to firearms for lawful self-defense, while doing nothing to increase security in schools or target violent criminals. Don’t let I-1639 leave Washingtonians defenseless. Vote No.

Campaign advertisements

Save Our Security Vote NO on I-1639 released the following video:

Title: "Don't Criminalize Victims or Self-Defense"

Media editorials

See also: 2018 ballot measure media endorsements

Support

• The News Tribune said: "Our governments already expect training and a level of proficiency before issuing a license to drive a car, operate a boat, cut hair, operate heavy machinery and handle food. Requiring a firearm safety class before the purchase of a gun that can shoot as many as 120 rounds per minute isn’t outside the realm of common sense. Yes, 18-year-olds can vote and serve in the military, but they can’t walk into a store and purchase alcohol or marijuana. Those substances require a level of maturity not found in everyone that age. The same logic applies to another potentially harmful commodity: guns. No, they won’t prevent every killer hellbent on mayhem from getting his hands on deadly firearms. But they could stop a confused, 15-year-old kid from taking his father’s handgun and shooting up his high school cafeteria, killing four classmates and himself, like what happened in Marysville in 2014. We urge voters to check 'yes' on Initiative 1639.

• The Seattle Times said: "Yes: The proposal would raise the minimum purchase age from 18 to 21 for semi-automatic rifles, establish new safe-storage rules and require safety training before buying any kind of gun or rifle."

• The Everett Herald said: "Initiative 1639 would address state laws on firearms. A yes vote is recommended: “What trigger locks, gun safes and other storage would provide is greater safety, especially in homes with children.”"

Opposition

• The Columbian said: "Undoubtedly, the United States has a problem with gun violence. And while Washington state is not immune from this disease, not all proposed cures fall under the category of common-sense gun laws. The fact is that the United States has about as many civilian-owned guns as it does people, and this nation has a far higher rate of gun violence than any other developed country. It is absurd to suggest that no correlation exists. That being said, Initiative 1639 is problematic, including what could be a murky definition of 'semiautomatic assault rifle.' Another shortcoming of I-1639 involves firearm storage requirements. We strongly encourage gun owners to use appropriate storage methods, but this mandate would be difficult to enforce and would inhibit the ability of homeowners to use their weapons in self-defense. In the meantime, Washington should, indeed, pursue sensible efforts to reduce gun violence. Initiative 1639 does not quite meet that definition; The Columbian recommends a vote against the measure."

• The Union-Bulletin said: "We do see room for debate on all aspects of I-1639. Yet, if it passes there would be zero debate — it’s a take-it-or-leave-it package. Again, without securitizing every line of the proposal, enacting such sweeping change is concerning and imprudent. Voters should vote no on Initiative 1639. Reject state gun-regulation Initiative 1639."

• The Chronicle said: "Gun violence is an ever-worsening epidemic in our country, but the best solution will be one that does not penalize responsible gun owners in a rushed effort to pass a flawed initiative. We recommend voting 'no' on Initiative 1639."

• The Yakima Herald-Republic said: " The initiative, while specific in many areas, is much too vague in its vital, foundational part — the definition of a “semiautomatic assault rifle.” Gun owners say that the initiative lumps together many “sporting” weapons for hunting or target shooting with the likes of AR 15 and AK-47 military “assault” rifles, or assault-style rifles that are not automatic weapons used in the military."

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Washington ballot measures

Total campaign contributions:
Support:	$5,548,232.39
Opposition:	$764,337.06

One committee was registered to support this initiative: Safe Schools Safe Communities. The committee reported a total of $5.55 million in contributions and $5.68 million in expenditures. The top donor was Paul Allen, who gave a total of $1.25 million.

Four committees were registered to oppose the measure: Save Our Security No on I-1639, Washingtonians and the National Rifle Association for Freedom 2018, and, Mary's Pistols, and Stop 1639 Sponsored by Shall Not Be Infringed. Together, the committees had raised $763,794 and had spent $949,555.

Support

Committees in support of Washington Initiative 1639 Supporting committees Cash contributions In-kind services Cash expenditures Safe Schools Safe Communities $5,403,206.80 $145,025.59 $5,530,766.99 Total $5,403,206.80 $145,025.59 $5,530,766.99

Totals in support Total raised: $5,548,232.39 Total spent: $5,675,792.58

Top donors

Donor	Cash	In-kind	Total
Paul Allen	$1,226,036.00	$23,900.00	$1,249,936.00
Nicolas Hanauer	$613,018.00	$0.00	$613,018.00
Leslie Hanauer	$613,018.00	$0.00	$613,018.00
Steven Ballmer	$500,000.00	$0.00	$500,000.00
Connie Ballmer	$500,000.00	$0.00	$500,000.00

Opposition

Committees in opposition to Washington Initiative 1639 Opposing committees Cash contributions In-kind services Cash expenditures Save Our Security No on I-1639 $47,241.28 $5,000.00 $52,131.28 Washingtonians and the National Rifle Association for Freedom 2018 $421,511.54 $258,507.88 $620,455.00 Stop 1639 Sponsored by Shall Not Be Infringed $31,946.36 $130.00 $29,986.61 Mary's Pistols $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Total $500,699.18 $263,637.88 $702,572.89

Totals in opposition Total raised: $764,337.06 Total spent: $966,210.77

Top donors

Donor	Cash	In-kind	Total
National Rifle Association of America	$200,000.00	$0.00	$200,000.00
Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms	$20,000.00	$239,851.15	$259,851.15
Shall Not Be Infringed	$29,945.87	$0.00	$29,945.87
Dan Solie	$16,631.00	$0.00	$16,631.00

Methodology

To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls and 2018 ballot measure polls

The following poll by Crosscut/Elway showed support for measure 1639 leading at 59 percent while 34 percent of respondents opposed the measure. Among Democrats, 91 percent of respondents supported the measure while six percent opposed it and three percent were undecided. Among Republicans, 26 percent of respondents supported the measure, 64 percent opposed it, and nine percent were undecided.

Washington Initiative 1639 (2018)
Poll	Support	Oppose	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Crosscut/Elway Poll 10/4/2018 - 10/9/2018	59.0%	34.0%	7.0%	+/-5.0	400
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.

Background

See also: Measures related to firearms in Washington

Measures related to firearms in Washington

2016

In 2016, the Washington Individual Gun Access Prevention by Court Order Initiative, or Initiative 1491, was on the November 8, 2016, ballot in Washington as an Initiative to the People, a type of initiated state statute. It was approved. The measure authorized courts to issue “extreme risk protection orders,” which prevent a person from possessing or accessing firearms. The person would need to be considered a significant danger to himself or herself or others before an extreme risk protection order could be authorized. The measure empowered certain individuals, including police, family, and household members, to petition a court for an extreme risk protection order on a person. The initiative provided that petitions need to explain facts that demonstrate a reasonable fear of future actions by the person. It also required petitions to be filed under oath. It provided that extreme risk protection orders last one year. The measure permitted petitioners to ask for the order to be renewed for an additional year. The measure was designed to allow persons under order to request a hearing to argue that the order be terminated.

2014

In 2014, the Washington Universal Background Checks for Gun Purchases Initiative, or Initiative 594, was on the November 4, 2014 ballot in the state of Washington as an Initiative to the Legislature, where it was approved. The measure was designed to require background checks to be run on every person purchasing a gun in the state of Washington, even those who do so via private sales. The measure also required that dealers who are facilitating gun transfers - whether they are through the licensed dealer or a private seller - receive confirmation in writing from the chief of police or sheriff that the purchaser in question "is eligible to possess a pistol [...] and that the application to purchase is approved by the chief of police or sheriff." Furthermore, the initiative rendered it illegal to hand off a firearm to people outside a person's immediate family, though exceptions were mentioned, including situations in which people are at a shooting range or hunting. Initiative 594 was supported by the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, which is also supporting this measure. Initiative 594 was also supported by Everytown for Gun Safety, which was founded by Michael Bloomberg.

The Washington Gun Rights Measure, or Initiative 591, was also on the November 4, 2014 ballot in the state of Washington as an Initiative to the Legislature, where it was defeated. Had it been approved by voters, the measure would have prevented the government from confiscating firearms without due process and implementing background checks unless a federal standard is established.

1997

The Washington Handgun Trigger Locks Initiative, or Initiative 676, was on the November 4, 1997 ballot in Washington as an Initiative to the People, where it was defeated. The measure would have criminalized the transfer of any handgun not equipped with a trigger-lock and would have mandated the licensing of firearms.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Washington

The state process

In Washington, the number of signatures required to qualify a directly initiated state statute—called an Initiative to the People in Washington—for the ballot is equal to 8 percent of the votes cast for the office of governor at the last regular gubernatorial election. Initial filings for direct initiatives cannot be made more than 10 months before the general election at which their proposal would be presented to voters. Signatures must be submitted at least four months prior to the general election.

The requirements to get an Initiative to the People certified for the 2018 ballot:

• Signatures: 259,622 valid signatures were required.
• Deadline: The deadline to submit signatures was July 6, 2018.

The secretary of state verifies the signatures using a random sample method. If the sample indicates that the measure has sufficient signatures, the measure is certified for the ballot. However, if the sample indicates that the measure has insufficient signatures, every signature is checked. Under Washington law, a random sample result may not invalidate a petition.

Cost of signature collection:
Sponsors of the measure hired AAP Holding Company to collect signatures for the petition to qualify this measure for the ballot. A total of $3,785,576.00 was spent to collect the 259,622 valid signatures required to put this measure before voters, resulting in a total cost per required signature (CPRS) of $14.58.

Details about this initiative

• Paul Kramer submitted this initiative on April 23, 2018.
• On July 5, 2018, the Washington Secretary of State reported on Twitter that proponents submitted signatures for the initiative. Proponents reported submitting around 367,000 signatures. A total of 259,622 valid signatures were required to secure a place on the November 2018 ballot.
• On July 27, 2018, Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman announced that the measure would be on the November 2018 ballot.

Lawsuits

Lawsuit filed after the measure was certified for the ballot:

NRA vs. Secretary of State

  

Lawsuit overview
Issue: Ballot language; whether the ballot language and text on petitions comply with state requirements. Signature validity; whether the signatures were obtained legally and are valid.
Court: Filed in Thurston County Superior Court
Ruling: Ruled in favor of plaintiffs, measure removed from the ballot. Defendants appealed to the Washington Supreme Court, which reversed the lower court's ruling on August 24, 2018, and allowed the measure to stay on the ballot.
Plaintiff(s): National Rifle Association and Founder of the Second Amendment Foundation Alan Gottlieb	Defendant(s): Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman
Plaintiff argument: Signatures are invalid because they were gathered using fraudulent copies of the initiative	Defendant argument: A random sampling determined that there were enough valid signatures for the petition to qualify it for the November ballot

  Source: Washington State Wire

In a press release, the plaintiff, founder and Executive Vice President of the Second Amendment Foundation Alan Gottlieb, wrote, "This initiative is legally invalid. The petitions were not printed in accordance with state law because they did not have a full and correct version of the measure printed on the back. This challenge maintains that because the initiative petitions were incorrectly printed, there isn’t a single valid signature on them."

Plaintiff Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRAILA) said, "Secretary of State Wyman has a legal and constitutional duty to reject all I-1639 signatures obtained using fraudulent copies of this initiative."

Secretary of State Kim Wyman, the defendant, wrote in a press release, "Concerns remain about whether the format of the I-1639 petition signature sheets complies with constitutional and statutory requirements, and whether it sets a precedent for future petitions. However, the initiative complied with the [statutory] requirements, which limits the Secretary’s authority over initiatives to specific criteria. To verify that I-1639 had been signed by enough registered voters to qualify, the Office of Secretary of State examined a random sample of 11,380 of the 378,085 signatures submitted by the sponsors. The office found that more than enough of the sampled signatures were valid to calculate that the initiative would meet constitutional requirements to make the November ballot."

On August 17, Thurston County Superior Court Judge James Dixon ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, removing the measure from the ballot. Dixon said, "I have 20/20 vision, I can’t read it. Moreover, it is not a true copy. It is not a correct copy of the proposed measure.” Renee Hopkins, CEO of Alliance for Gun Responsibility, said, "Today’s decision tossed out the signatures of more than 378,000 voters, and undermined the rights of the citizens of this state in favor of the interests of the gun lobby. It’s not right, and we will continue to fight." The Alliance for Gun Responsibility, proponents of the initiative, filed a notice of appeal with the Washington Supreme Court. On August 24, 2018, the Washington Supreme Court reversed the lower court's ruling, allowing the initiative to stay on the November 2018 ballot. The court wrote in the decision: "Because the [secretary of state] has no mandatory duty to not certify an initiative petition based on the readability, correctness, or formatting of the proposed measure printed on the back of the petitions," the lower court's ruling could not be upheld.

Lawsuits filed before the measure was certified for the ballot:

Second Amendment Foundation & others vs. Kim Wyman and initiative proponents

  

Lawsuit overview
Issue: Ballot language; whether the ballot language and text on petitions comply with state requirements
Court: Washington State Supreme Court
Ruling: Dismissed
Plaintiff(s): Second Amendment Foundation, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms	Defendant(s): Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman and proponent Paul Kramer, Safe Schools Safe Communities PAC (Yes on 1639)
Plaintiff argument: The ballot language is too small and does not live up to readability standards, the full text of the measure was not printed on the back of petitions, the text used on petitions did not match the official ballot language text	Defendant argument: The lawsuit is an attempt by gun ownership supporters to keep the initiative off the ballot, people signing petitions were aware of what the initiative would do

  Source: Guns.com

On June 29, 2018, a lawsuit was filed in the Washington State Supreme Court alleging that the language and text printed on the petitions being circulated by I-1639 supporters did not meet state requirements. The lawsuit was brought by the Second Amendment Foundation, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Tyler G. Miller, and Jane and John Does. The suit was filed against Kim Wyman, the secretary of state of Washington; Paul Kramer, the initiative sponsor; and Safe Schools Safe Communities PAC (the Yes on 1639 campaign). The suit alleges that the text and ballot language on signature petitions does not meet readability requirements. Plaintiffs allege that the full text was not printed on the back of petitions, that the text on the petition does not match the official ballot language, and that the text is too small.

Communications Manager Tallman Trask of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, a group backing the measure, said, “The gun lobby knows how much support there is for measures to prevent gun violence in our state and that they can’t win at the ballot. They are desperately trying to prevent a vote on a popular measure.” Trask also said "The court has a long history of making sure that the initiative process favors the will of the people and the voters. And it’s been really clear that over time they have generally sided with leaving petitions on the ballot pretty much no matter what. There’s a history of pretty significant errors, more than formatting issues."

On July 3, a Washington State Supreme Court commissioner dismissed the suit. Plaintiffs said they filed a motion to reconsider.

NRA challenge to ballot title

  

Lawsuit overview
Issue: Ballot language; whether the language of the ballot title and summary is neutral and encompasses the key tenets of the measure
Court: Thurston County Superior Court
Ruling: On June 7, 2018, Judge Carol Murphy ruled that the ballot title and summary must be changed
Plaintiff(s): The National Rifle Association	Defendant(s): Attorney General Robert Ferguson and proponent Paul Kramer
Plaintiff argument: The ballot title and summary are biased and don't include important parts of the measure	Defendant argument: The ballot summary is fair, clear, and complies with statutory standards

  Source: Challenge to ballot title and summary for initiative 1639

On May 16, 2018, the NRA filed a legal challenge in the Thurston County Superior Court, arguing that the ballot title is "misleading and inadequate." The attorney general, who wrote the title and summary, argued that they sufficiently complied with state law. However, on June 7, 2018, it was ruled that the title and summary needed to be changed. The original and current (final) ballot title and summary are below.

Ballot titles:

Initiative 1639 final ballot title
Initiative Measure No. 1639 concerns firearms. This measure would require increased background checks, training, age limitations, and waiting periods for sales or delivery of semiautomatic assault rifles; criminalize noncompliant storage upon unauthorized use; allow fees; and enact other provisions. Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]

Initiative 1639 original ballot title
Initiative Measure No. 1639 concerns firearms. This measure would require enhanced background checks, training, and waiting periods for sales or delivery of semiautomatic assault rifles; criminalize certain storage and unauthorized use; impose age limitations; and enact other firearm-safety requirements. Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]

Ballot summaries:

Initiative 1639 final ballot summary

This measure would require increased background checks, firearm safety training, and waiting periods before semiautomatic assault rifles may be purchased or delivered. It would impose age limitations on who may purchase or possess certain firearms, including prohibiting firearm purchases by persons under age 21. It would require certain secured firearm storage or trigger-locks, and criminalize certain firearm storage if it results in unauthorized use. It would enact other firearm-related requirements, including certain warnings, recordkeeping, and fees.

Initiative 1639 original ballot summary

This measure would require enhanced background checks, firearm training, and waiting periods before semiautomatic assault rifles may be purchased or delivered. It would impose age limitations on who may purchase or possess certain firearms, including prohibiting firearm purchases by persons under age 21. It would require certain secured firearm storage or trigger-locks, and criminalize certain firearm storage if it results in unauthorized use. It would enact other firearm-related requirements, including certain warnings, recordkeeping, and fees.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Washington

Poll times

Washington is an all-mail voting state. Individuals who prefer to vote in person rather than by mail may do so at local voting centers, which are open for 18 days prior to the election. The voting period ends at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Contact your county elections department for more information on voting center locations and times.

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Washington, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the state, and at least 18 years of age.

One may register to vote online, by mail, or in-person at a county elections department. Registration must be completed eight days in advance if done by mail or online. In-person registration is available through Election Day.

In 2018, Washington lawmakers enacted legislation providing for same-day voter registration and automatic voter registration.

Automatic registration

Washington automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles, health benefit exchange, and other state agencies approved by the governor.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Washington has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Washington allows same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Washington law requires 30 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Washington does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who knowingly provides false information or knowingly make a false declaration about their qualifications "will have committed a class C felony that is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars, or both."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site Vote WA, run by the Washington Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Washington is an all-mail voting state and does not require voters to present photo identification (ID). Voters may choose to vote in person at a local voting center. According to state law RCW 29A.40.160, “The county auditor shall require any person desiring to vote at a voting center to either sign a ballot declaration or provide identification.” Accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state ID cards, and student ID cards. For a list of all accepted forms of ID, see below.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of April 2023. Click here for the Washington State Legislature's voter ID regulations to ensure you have the most current information.

• Driver's license
• State identification card
• Student identification card
• Tribal identification card
• Employer identification card

See also

2018 measures

• 2018 ballot measures
• Firearms on the ballot
• 2018 petition deadlines

Washington

• Washington ballot measures
• Washington initiative laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls
• Ballot measure signature costs

External links

• Initiative #1639 Full Text

Support

• Alliance for Gun Responsibility website
• Yes on 1639 campaign website
• Yes on 1639 Twitter page
• Yes on 1639 Facebook page
• Yes on 1639 Instagram page

Opposition

• Save Our Security No on 1639 campaign website
• Save Our Security No on 1639 Facebook page
• Save Our Security No on 1639 Twitter page