Washington Statewide Ballot Measures: 2019 General Election

OLYMPIA, WA — Washington voters will see two statewide measures on their ballots this year. If approved, Initiative 976 would reduce car tab fees by slashing funding for transportation projects. Referendum 88 would reinstate affirmative action policies in Washington, seeking to increase diversity in public education and employment.

INITIATIVE 976

Initiative 976, sponsored by longtime anti-tax activist Tim Eyman, would strip cities of their authority to charge local car tab fees, calculate vehicle values based on Kelley Blue Book, and cap many fees at $30. If passed, the state stands to lose about $4 billion in funding over the next six years. Right now, that money helps pay for road projects, maintenance, and Sound Transit light rail construction. A large coalition has united against the effort, including Governor Jay Inslee, nine mayors, and more than two dozen state legislators. Sixteen cities have passed formal resolutions against the measure.

REFERENDUM 88

Referendum 88, if approved, would enact Initiative 1000, passed by legislators earlier this year. The law would reverse a 20-year ban on affirmative action policies and allow public employers to consider characteristics like race, sex, and ethnicity when selecting candidates. However, those considerations could not be used as a "sole qualifying factor" to select a less qualified person over someone more qualified, and establishing quotas will not be allowed. Shortly after it was passed by lawmakers, opponents gathered enough signatures to put the initiative up for a public vote before it can become law. They argue the law creates more division, lacks accountability and creates different rules for different people.

Voters will also see a slew of advisory votes, which are non-binding, but allow residents to weigh in on revenue bills passed during the last legislative session. Senate Joint Resolution 8200 would authorize the legislature to quickly pass laws to keep the government running during a "catastrophic event."