Washington Initiative 2117, Prohibit Carbon Tax Credit Trading and Repeal Carbon Cap-and-Invest Program Measure (2024)

Washington Initiative 2117
Election date November 5, 2024
Topic Taxes and Energy
Status d Defeated
Type State statute	Origin Citizens

Washington Initiative 2117, the Prohibit Carbon Tax Credit Trading Initiative, was on the ballot in Washington as an Initiative to the Legislature, a type of indirect initiated state statute, on November 5, 2024. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported prohibiting any state agencies from implementing a cap and trade or cap and tax program and repealing the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA), a state law that provided for a cap and invest program designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 95% by 2050.

A "no" vote opposed prohibiting state agencies from implementing a cap and trade or cap and tax program and opposed repealing the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA), a state law that provided for a cap and invest program designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 95% by 2050.

Election results

Washington Initiative 2117
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		1,437,103	38.05%
No		2,340,077	61.95%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Overview

What would Initiative 2117 have done?

See also: Text of measure

Initiative 2117 would have prohibited any state agencies from implementing a cap and trade or cap and tax program.

The initiative would have repealed the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA), a state law that provided for a cap and invest program designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 95% by 2050. The cap and invest program set a cap on the total carbon emissions in the state. Businesses with emissions exceeding 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year must purchase allowances equal to their allowed greenhouse gas emissions. The cap and invest program was designed to allow businesses that reduce emissions to sell their remaining carbon emission allowance permits to other companies, thereby incentivizing companies to lower their emissions.

What did supporters and opponents say about the measure?

See also: Support and Opposition

Initiative sponsor State Rep. Jim Walsh (R) said, "This cap and trade gas tax scheme is what is making Washington’s price of living the highest in the nation alongside California. This cap and trade gas tax scheme has created over $1.5 BILLION for Olympia Bureaucrats in this year alone – paid for by working families – and it doesn’t actually reduce emissions. ... It punishes working families and doesn’t actually reduce emissions in our state. People still need to drive to work, and go to the grocery store, and drop kids off at school, and heat their homes. It doesn’t just stop at our cars. It’s directly driving up the price of our groceries and other goods in the supply chain. And it is driving up your home utility costs."

Michael Mann, the executive director for Clean and Prosperous Washington, said, "If we are concerned about the cost of transportation for Washington businesses and residents, we have to keep our focus away from the arm-waving of the variations of gas prices that we’ve suffered through for decades and really look to true solutions. And the true solution to lower our transportation costs is to get off of fossil fuels."

Has Washington voted on carbon-related policies before?

See also: Background

In 2018, Washington voters rejected Initiative 1631, which would have enacted a carbon emissions fee of $15 per metric ton beginning in 2020 and increasing by $2 each year until the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals were met. Revenues would have been used to fund various programs and projects related to the environment.

Washington voters defeated a carbon tax initiative—Initiative 732—in 2016.

How did this initiative get on the ballot?

See also: Path to the ballot and Let's Go Washington 2024 initiatives

Let's Go Washington, led by State Rep. Jim Walsh (R-19) and conservative donor Brian Heywood, sponsored six Initiatives to the Legislature. The Democratic-controlled state legislature enacted three of the initiatives into law. Legislative Republicans were unanimous in their support for the three initiatives, while Democrats were divided. The legislature took no action on the other three initiatives, so they were placed on the 2024 ballot for voter approval or rejection. The other initiatives on the 2024 ballot were Initiative 2109, which was designed to repeal the capital gains tax, and Initiative 2124, which was designed to allow individuals to opt out of the WA Cares payroll tax and long-term health services program.

From 1912, when the state’s initiative process was established, to 2023, six Initiatives to the Legislature (ITLs) received legislative approval. With three approved in 2024, the total increased to nine, a 50% increase.

Measure design

This initiative would have prohibited any state agencies from implementing a cap and trade or cap and tax program.

The initiative would have repealed the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA), a state law that provided for a cap and invest program designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 95% by 2050. The cap and invest program, overseen by the Washington Department of Ecology, set a cap on the total carbon emissions in the state. Under the program, businesses with emissions exceeding 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year need to obtain allowances equal to their allowed greenhouse gas emissions. The allowances are obtained through quarterly auctions hosted by the state department of ecology or on a secondary market similar to a stock market. The cap and invest program was designed to allow businesses that reduce emissions to sell their remaining carbon emission allowance permits to other companies, thereby incentivizing companies to lower their emissions.

As of 2024, about 75% of the state's total emissions were covered by the CCA's cap and invest program. Business types covered under the cap and invest program include fuel suppliers, natural gas and electric utilities, waste-to-energy facilities (beginning in 2027), and railroads (beginning in 2031). The program exempts emissions from fuel used for agricultural purposes, aviation fuels, and marine fuels combusted outside of the state.

Businesses that do not comply with the program are subject to a fine of up to $50,000 per violation per day.

Businesses that are classified as emissions-intensive, trade-exposed or (EITEs) were given a certain amount of allowances at no cost through 2034. One example of a large businesses with high emissions in Washington that is classified as an EITE is Boeing, which operates major airplane manufacturing and assembly facilities throughout the state, including its facility in Everett.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for the initiative is below:

“

Initiative Measure No. 2117 concerns carbon tax credit trading. This measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, and repeal legislation establishing a cap and invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This measure would decrease funding for investments in transportation, clean air, renewable energy, conservation, and emissions-reduction. Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]

”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for the initiative is below:

“

This measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, including “cap and trade” or “cap and tax” programs, regardless of whether the resulting increased costs are imposed on fuel recipients or fuel suppliers. It would repeal sections of the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act as amended, including repealing the creation and modification of a “cap and invest” program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by specific entities.

”

Full text

The full text of the measure can be read below:

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2024

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 attorney general wrote the ballot language for this measure.

The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 11, and the FRE is 36. The word count for the ballot title is 63.

The FKGL for the ballot summary is grade level 19, and the FRE is 21. The word count for the ballot summary is 71.

Support

Let's Go Washington sponsored the initiative.

Supporters

Officials

• State Rep. Jim Walsh (R)

Organizations

• Let's Go Washington

Individuals

• Brian Heywood - Founder of Let's Go Washington

Arguments

• State Rep. Jim Walsh (R-19): "This cap and trade gas tax scheme is what is making Washington’s price of living the highest in the nation alongside California. This cap and trade gas tax scheme has created over $1.5 BILLION for Olympia Bureaucrats in this year alone – paid for by working families – and it doesn’t actually reduce emissions. If Democrats were actually successful with their climate programs, Jay Inslee wouldn’t have to scrub his website of failures. It punishes working families and doesn’t actually reduce emissions in our state. People still need to drive to work, and go to the grocery store, and drop kids off at school, and heat their homes. It doesn’t just stop at our cars. It’s directly driving up the price of our groceries and other goods in the supply chain. And it is driving up your home utility costs – which is something Bob Ferguson wanted to hide from you on your utility bills."
• Brian Heywood: "[Initiative 2117] would eliminate the carbon tax which proponents knowingly lied about when they passed it. This is a sneaky tax. Those who passed the bill purposefully made it difficult to assess its impact. Luckily some very smart people at local think tanks worked through the economics of tax and predicted in 2021 that it would raise the price of gallon immediately by 45 cents a gallon and it would eventually increase by as much as a dollar a gallon. Governor Inslee and the Democrats scoffed at the think tanks’ research and claimed it would 'just be pennies.' ... Nearly 50 cents a gallon is a huge financial hit for many households. Not only does it raise the price of gas, but it also increases the transportation cost for groceries and other necessary items. Citizens deserve to have an honest debate on this, not one based on falsehoods."

Opposition

No on 2117 led the campaign in opposition to the initiative. The campaign provided a full list of endorsements, which is available here. Stop Greed also registered as a committee to oppose the initiative.

Opponents

Officials

• Gov. Jay Inslee (D)
• Olympia City Council

American Indian Tribes

• Puyallup Tribe of Indians

Corporations

• Amazon
• BP America
• Microsoft

Unions

• SEIU 775
• SEIU 925

Organizations

• AFT Washington
• Audubon Washington
• Environmental Defense Action Fund
• Faith Action Network
• Fuse Washington
• League of Women Voters of Washington
• Natural Resources Defense Council
• Northwest Progressive Institute
• Permanent Defense
• Statewide Poverty Action Network
• Tacoma Indivisible
• The Nature Conservancy
• Washington Conservation Action
• Washington Education Association
• Washington Federation of State Employees
• Washington Prescribed Fire Council
• Washington State Council of Fire Fighters

Arguments

• Spokesperson for Bill Gates: "Bill Gates is committed to finding and funding climate solutions and the Climate Commitment Act is an important way to reduce emissions while spurring innovation, creating jobs, and improving energy security."
• Michael Mann, the executive director for Clean and Prosperous Washington: "If we are concerned about the cost of transportation for Washington businesses and residents, we have to keep our focus away from the arm-waving of the variations of gas prices that we’ve suffered through for decades and really look to true solutions. And the true solution to lower our transportation costs is to get off of fossil fuels."
• No on 2117: "I-2117 will harm Washington taxpayers and communities across our state. I-2117 will strip billions in investment from community priorities in every county — like air quality, transportation and transit service, fish habitat, and preventing wildfires. I-2117 will shift the burden of paying for the impacts of pollution onto local communities and families. I-2117 cuts programs that lower costs for Washingtonians …like funding for the program that helps low- and moderate-income households save money on their energy bills by delivering more efficient home heating appliances. I-2117 guts funding for clean air and water …like programs to reduce toxic air pollution that endangers our families and communities. I-2117 slashes investments in forest health, land management, and wildfire prevention …like the state grant program that helps local governments and landowners clear brush, which can fuel extreme wildfires. I-2117 cuts billions from the transportation budget …putting at risk transit service, ferries, and road projects across Washington and making traffic worse. 1-2117 wipes out support for Native communities …like programs to help keep them safe from flooding and sea level rise. 1-2117 eliminates funds for farmlands and growers …like grants that support growers’ and ranchers’ sustainable practices. 1-2117 tanks investment in fish habitat and salmon recovery …like grants to remove barriers that hurt migrating salmon."
• Defend Washington: "There are a lot of misleading initiatives on the ballot this year… and all of them were put there by this guy, a millionaire hedge fund manager who moved here from California. What do the initiatives do? [They] make critical cuts to education and healthcare programs and put our air and water at risk just to give tax breaks to super rich guys like him. So that’s deep cuts for us, and tax cuts for him and his friends. Don’t let some hedge fund millionaire control our future. Vote NO on all the statewide initiatives on your ballot."
• Erin Frasier, Assistant Executive Secretary of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council: "This is one more reason why Washington workers cannot afford the devastating impacts of Initiative 2117.“I-2117 would cost tens of thousands of high-wage jobs in building and construction trades. This deceptive initiative hurts workers and hurts our economy."
• Billy Wallace, Political and Legislative Director of the Washington and Northern Idaho District Council of Laborers: "Roads and bridges across Washington state are in desperate need of repair. I-2117 not only guts funding for that maintenance, it also slashes the tens of thousands of jobs needed to actually get the work done. These are family-wage jobs that provide health care and pensions, and they are critical for workers and a strong economy."
• Rachel Smith, President and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce: "Now is a time to be generating economic activity, not inhibiting it. A healthy economy needs a strong workforce and a connected, safe, and reliable statewide transportation system. But Initiative 2117’s impact is all about cuts: Cuts to transportation, cuts to environmental protections, and cuts to high-skilled, high-wage jobs—jobs that our employers rely on. That’s why we, representing 2,500 employers, are urging people to vote no. I-2117 is a bad deal for Washington."
• Cassie Bordelon, Executive Director of Climate Jobs WA: "Initiative 2117 slashes investment in the kind of sustainable, high-quality jobs we need to power our workforce now and into the future. I-2117 will devastate our ability to advance the clean energy economy and will hurt working people first and foremost. Climate Jobs WA calls on voters to reject I-2117 this fall."

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Washington ballot measures

The campaign finance information on this page reflects the most recent scheduled reports that Ballotpedia has processed, which covered through November 30, 2024.

Let's Go Washington and Taxpayers Accountability Alliance registered to support the initiative. The committees also registered to support the two other initiatives (Initiative 2124 and 2109) on the 2024 ballot.

No on 2117, Clean and Prosperous America No on 2117 Committee, Earth Ministry/WA IPL PAC Sponsored by Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light, Defend Washington, and Stop Greed registered to oppose the initiative. Stop Greed also registered to oppose the two other initiatives (Initiative 2124 and 2109) on the 2024 ballot. Defend Washington registered to oppose all four initiatives on the 2024 ballot.

Since the committees are registered to support or oppose multiple measures, it is impossible to distinguish between funds spent on each individual measure. When PACs contribute to other PACs, Ballotpedia subtracts the funds from the contributing PAC's finances to avoid double counting funds.

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$16,072,340.11	$1,368,649.57	$17,440,989.68	$13,795,447.01	$15,164,096.58
Oppose	$20,169,159.23	$2,615,201.73	$22,784,360.96	$20,037,041.39	$22,652,243.12
Total	$36,241,499.34	$3,983,851.30	$40,225,350.64	$33,832,488.40	$37,816,339.70

Support

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in support of Initiative 2117.

Committees in support of Initiative 2117
Committee	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Let's Go Washington	$16,071,240.11	$1,367,857.73	$17,439,097.84	$13,752,922.21	$15,120,779.94
Taxpayers Accountability Alliance	$1,100.00	$791.84	$1,891.84	$42,524.80	$43,316.64
Total	$16,072,340.11	$1,368,649.57	$17,440,989.68	$13,795,447.01	$15,164,096.58

Donors

Donors to the support campaigns were as follows:

Donor	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions
Brian Heywood	$5,176,000.00	$1,231,347.40	$6,407,347.40
BIAW Member Services Corporation	$500,000.00	$0.00	$500,000.00
Lawrence Hughes	$400,000.00	$0.00	$400,000.00
Kemper Holdings, LLC	$350,000.00	$0.00	$350,000.00
Phil Scott	$250,000.00	$0.00	$250,000.00

Opposition

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in opposition to Initiative 2117.

Committees in opposition to Initiative 2117
Committee	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
No on 2117	$14,256,787.23	$2,030,310.74	$16,287,097.97	$14,111,137.56	$16,141,448.30
Defend Washington	$5,219,744.00	$572,028.93	$5,791,772.93	$5,241,042.31	$5,813,071.24
Clean and Prosperous America No on 2117 Committee	$675,000.00	$8,000.00	$683,000.00	$672,740.00	$680,740.00
Stop Greed	$12,628.00	$603.16	$13,231.16	$12,121.52	$12,724.68
Earth Ministry/WA IPL PAC Sponsored by Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light	$5,000.00	$4,258.90	$9,258.90	$0.00	$4,258.90
Total	$20,169,159.23	$2,615,201.73	$22,784,360.96	$20,037,041.39	$22,652,243.12

Donors

Donors to the opposition campaigns were as follows:

Donor	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions
The Nature Conservancy	$2,000,000.00	$1,662,237.16	$3,662,237.16
Steve and Connie Ballmer	$2,500,000.00	$0.00	$2,500,000.00
Chris Stolte	$1,000,000.00	$0.00	$1,000,000.00
LCV Victory Fund	$1,000,000.00	$0.00	$1,000,000.00
Microsoft Corporation	$1,000,000.00	$0.00	$1,000,000.00
SEIU 775 Ballot Fund	$1,000,000.00	$0.00	$1,000,000.00
William H Gates	$1,000,000.00	$0.00	$1,000,000.00
WFSE AFSCME Council 28	$300,000.00	$0.00	$300,000.00
LCV Victory Fund	$250,000.00	$0.00	$250,000.00

Methodology

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

Polls

See also: 2024 ballot measure polls

Are you aware of a poll on this ballot measure that should be included below? You can share ballot measure polls, along with source links, with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Washington Initiative 2117, Prohibit Carbon Tax Credit Trading and Repeal Carbon Cap-and-Invest Program Measure (2024)
Poll	Dates	Sample size	Margin of error	Support	Oppose	Undecided

Cascade PBS/Elway Poll	10/8/2024-10/12/2024	401 LV	± 5%	31%	46%	23%
	Question: "Initiative 2117 concerns carbon tax credit trading. This measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, and repeal legislation establishing a cap and invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This measure would decrease funding for investments in transportation, clean air, renewable energy, conservation, and emissions-reduction. As things stand today, do you intend to vote: Yes to repeal the cap-and-trade program, No to keep the cap-and-trade program, or UNDECIDED?"

Cascade PBS/Elway Poll	9/3/2024-9/6/2024	403 RV	± 5%	30%	46%	24%
	Question: "Initiative 2117 concerns carbon tax credit trading. This measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, and repeal legislation establishing a cap and invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This measure would decrease funding for investments in transportation, clean air, renewable energy, conservation, and emissions-reduction. As things stand today, how are you inclined to vote?"

Cascade PBS/Elway Poll	5/13/2024-5/16/2024	403 RV	± 5%	41%	31%	28%
	Question: "Initiative 2117 would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, including “cap and trade” or “cap and tax” programs, regardless of whether the resulting increased costs are imposed on fuel recipients or fuel suppliers. It would repeal sections of the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act, including repealing the “cap and invest” program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by specific entities. As things stand today, how are you inclined to vote?"

Note: LV is likely voters, RV is registered voters, and EV is eligible voters.

Background

Washington carbon and climate-related policy

• 2021: The Washington State Legislature passed the Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA), with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed. The law provided for a cap and invest program designed to help the state meet its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 45% below 1990 levels by 2030, 70% below 1990 levels by 2040, and 95% below 1990 levels and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The cap and invest program sets a cap on the total carbon emissions in the state and requires businesses with emissions exceeding 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year (such as fuel suppliers and natural gas and electric utility companies) to obtain allowances equal to their allowed greenhouse gas emissions. The cap and invest program was designed to allow businesses that reduce emissions to sell their remaining carbon emission allowance permits to other companies.

• 2014: In 2014, Washington Governor Jay Inslee (D), who supports carbon tax programs, created the Carbon Emissions Reduction Taskforce (CERT) which was composed of 21 leaders from business, labor, health and public interest organizations and tasked with providing recommendations to the governor on design and implementation of a market-based carbon pollution program. The task force's final report can be read here.

• 2009: The Legislature approved the State Agency Climate Leadership Act, which established greenhouse gas emission limits for state government. The act requires state agencies to track, report, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenhouse gas emissions limit

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases that trap the sun's heat in the atmosphere. According to the state department of ecology, "When the sun’s energy reaches the Earth's atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and trapped in the lower atmosphere, heating the Earth. This is called the 'greenhouse effect.' Up to a point, the greenhouse effect helps keep the Earth at a temperature suitable for life. As more greenhouse gases are pumped into the atmosphere, however, the temperature increases and there's a risk of creating feedback effects that could make the Earth warmer still."

In 2020, the state legislature passed a bill limiting greenhouse gas emissions requiring the state to reduce emissions levels as follows:

• 2020: reduce to 1990 levels. ​
• ​2030: 45% below 1990 levels.
• 2040: 70% below 1990 levels.
• 2050: 95% below 1990 levels and achieve net zero emissions.

Initiative 1631 of 2018, carbon fee initiative

See also: Washington Initiative 1631, Carbon Emissions Fee Measure (2018)

In 2018, Washington voters rejected Initiative 1631, which would have enacted a carbon emissions fee of $15 per metric ton beginning in 2020 and increasing by $2 each year until the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals were met. Revenues would have been used to fund various programs and projects related to the environment.

Initiative 1631 was supported by Governor Jay Inslee (D), U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Bill and Melinda Gates, as well as various progressive and climate-oriented organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and League of Conservation Voters. Opponents of the initiative included the Western States Petroleum Association and the Association of Washington Business, as well as oil producing companies including BP America, Phillips 66, Andeavor, American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, and the U.S. Oil and Refining Company.

The initiative was defeated with 43% of voters in favor and 57% opposed.

Initiative 732 of 2016, carbon tax initiative

See also: Washington Carbon Emission Tax and Sales Tax Reduction, Initiative 732 (2016)

Washington voters defeated a carbon tax initiative—Initiative 732—in 2016, with 59.25 percent of voters rejecting it. I-732 was backed by Carbon Washington and would have established a tax on carbon emissions at $15 per metric ton of emissions in July 2017, $25 in July 2018, and then increased by 3.5 percent plus inflation each year until the tax reached $100 per metric ton. The tax would have been phased in more slowly for farmers and nonprofit transportation providers. The designers of Initiative 732 sought to neither increase nor decrease state revenues. Rather, the general goal behind the tax was to encourage families and firms to reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. To meet this goal of remaining "revenue neutral," Initiative 732 would have lowered the state sales tax from 6.5 to 5.5 percent, increased the Working Families Tax Credit for low-income families, and reduced the business and occupation tax rate from 0.484 to 0.001 percent.

Energy policy ballot measures

See also: Energy on the ballot and List of Washington ballot measures

Ballotpedia has covered 13 ballot measures relating to state and local energy policy in Washington.

1. Washington SJR 120, Energy Conservation Financing Amendment (1979)
2. Washington Referendum 18, Municipal Energy Measure (1934)
3. Washington Initiative 937, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Standards for Electric Utilities Initiative (2006)
4. Washington Initiative 52, Municipal Authority Over Electrical Facilities Measure (1924)
5. Washington Referendum 3, Sale of Surplus Municipal Energy Measure (1924)
6. Washington Bonds for Energy Efficiency Projects, Referendum 52 (2010)
7. Washington HJR 10, Public Energy Production and Development Amendment (1936)
8. Washington HJR 4223, Extension of Energy Conservation Amendment (1988)
9. Washington Initiative 394, Voter Approval for Energy Project Bonds Measure (1981)
10. Washington Modifying Tax Exemption Criteria for Alternative Fuel Vehicles, Advisory Vote 15 (2016)
11. Washington Advisory Vote 19, Non-Binding Question on Oil Spill Tax Repeal (2018)
12. Washington Initiative 2066, Natural Gas Policies Measure (2024)
13. Washington Initiative 1631, Carbon Emissions Fee Measure (2018)

Let's Go Washington 2024 initiatives

See also: Let's Go Washington PAC (2024)

Let's Go Washington, led by State Rep. Jim Walsh (R) and conservative donor Brian Heywood, sponsored six Initiatives to the Legislature. The Democratic-controlled state legislature enacted three of the initiatives into law without being placed on the ballot. The legislature took no action on the other three, so they were placed on the ballot.

The conservative PAC Let’s Go Washington was behind the six Initiatives to the Legislature. State Rep. Jim Walsh (R-19), who is chairperson of the Washington Republican Party as of 2024, filed the initiatives. Brian Heywood, CEO of Taiyo Pacific Partners, founded the PAC.

Democrats controlled both chambers of the Washington State Legislature in 2024. Legislative Republicans were unanimous in their support for the three initiatives, while Democrats were divided. However, a majority of Democrats supported each of the three.

From 1912, when the state’s initiative process was established, to 2023, six Initiatives to the Legislature (ITLs) received legislative approval. With three approved in 2024, the total increased to nine, a 50% increase.

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 an indirectly initiated state statute—called an Initiative to the Legislature 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 indirect initiatives cannot be made more than 10 months before the regular session at which their proposal would be presented to lawmakers. Signatures must be submitted at least 10 days prior to the beginning of the legislative session in the year of the targeted election.

The requirements to get an Initiative to the Legislature certified for the 2024 ballot:

• Signatures: 324,516 valid signatures
• Deadline: December 29, 2023

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 to appear before the legislature. If the legislature does not approve the measure, it is certified to appear on 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.

In Washington, the Legislature has three options regarding Initiatives to the Legislature:

• (1) The Legislature can adopt an Initiative to the Legislature, in which case the initiative is enacted into law without a vote of electors;
• (2) The Legislature can reject or not act on the initiative, in which case the initiative is placed on the ballot at the next state general election; or
• (3) The Legislature can approve an alternative to the proposed initiative, in which case both the original proposal and the legislative alternative are placed on the ballot at the next state general election.

Details about this initiative

• State Rep. Jim Walsh (R-19) filed the initiative on May 19, 2023. Ballot language was issued for the initiative on June 2, 2023.
• Let's Go Washington submitted 466,072 signatures for the initiative to the secretary of state's office on November 21, 2023.
• On January 16, 2024, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs certified that enough valid signatures were submitted and that the initiative was certified to the legislature. In a random sample of 3% of submitted signatures, it was determined that 77.69% of the submitted signatures were valid, indicating that 362,091 signatures were valid.
• The Washington State Legislature adjourned the 2024 legislative session on March 7, 2024, without taking action on the initiative and without proposing an alternative, thereby certifying the initiative for the ballot.

Signature gathering cost

See also: Ballot measures cost per required signatures analysis

Sponsors of the measure hired TDM Strategies, Allstate Petition Management LLC and Voter Science to collect signatures for the petition to qualify this measure for the ballot. A total of $1,064,666.89 was spent to collect the 324,516 valid signatures required to put this measure before voters, resulting in a total cost per required signature (CPRS) of $3.28.

Fiscal impact summary lawsuit

  

Lawsuit overview
Issue: Whether a fiscal impact statement for the initiatives must be included in the voter pamphlet
Court: Thurston County Superior Court
Plaintiff(s): Initiative sponsor Rep. Jim Walsh (R) and Deanna Martinez, chair of Mainstream Republicans of Washington	Defendant(s): Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs (D)
Plaintiff argument: The fiscal impact statements prepared for the three initiatives on the 2024 ballot are partisan and should not be included in the voter pamphlet	Defendant argument: Voters should be given a fiscal impact statement from the Office of Financial Management according to state law, which requires it

  Source: The Center Square

Initiative sponsor Rep. Jim Walsh (R) and Deanna Martinez, chair of Mainstream Republicans of Washington, filed a lawsuit against Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs (D) in Thurston County Superior Court. Plaintiffs argue that the fiscal impact statements prepared for the three initiatives on the 2024 ballot by the Office of Financial Management under state law, are partisan and should not be included in the voter pamphlet. Walsh said, "It’s designed entirely to derail the people’s initiatives by spinning editorialized comments from the partisan Office of Financial Management and the AG’s office. This is partisan spin, it’s not good public policy. This is partisan spin, it’s not good public policy."

The lawsuit challenges a law passed in 2022 that required public investment and fiscal information disclosures for certain ballot measures that repeal, create, or modify a tax or fee and that would cause a change in state revenue.

Signature validity lawsuit

Lawsuit overview
Issue: Whether the signatures submitted for three Washington initiatives are valid; whether the state properly validated signatures
Court: Washington State Supreme Court
Ruling: Ruled in favor of defendant
Plaintiff(s): Defend Washington	Defendant(s): Secretary of State Steve Hobbs (D)

  Source: Washington Examiner

The Washington Supreme court ruled on October 17, 2024, that the state constitution only requires initiative petition signatures to be validated against voter rolls, not addresses. The group Defend Washington filed the lawsuit challenging the state's signature validation laws in an attempt to invalidate three initiatives on the 2024 ballot. Chief Justice González, writing for the majority, said, "There is no statutory basis for requiring the secretary to verify addresses and such an additional requirement would risk disenfranchising voters."

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Washington

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Washington.

How to vote 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

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

2024 measures

• 2024 ballot measures
• Taxes on the ballot
• Environment on the ballot
• 2024 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

• Initiatives to the Legislature
• Initiative 2117 full text