Referendum 88 Briefly Leads After King County Ballot Drop Friday

OLYMPIA, WA — Referendum 88, a ballot measure seeking to restore affirmative action policies in Washington state, briefly took the lead Friday after a fresh batch of King County ballots were counted. By 4 p.m. votes to approve R-88 led by a narrow margin, but votes to reject it again took the majority back after other counties updated results at 5 p.m.

The referendum asked voters whether to approve or refect Initiative 1000, which was passed by state lawmakers in April. Approval would allow public employers to consider a person's minority status as a factor when screening qualified applicants, reversing a 20-year ban on affirmative action in the state.

Considerations can not be used as a "sole qualifying factor" to select a less qualified person over someone more qualified, and mandatory quotas are not permitted. Opponents argued the law allows for government discrimination and further divides the state.

Due to the Veteran's Day holiday, the next ballot drops are scheduled Tuesday afternoon. Margins will continue to shift as results are updated.