ballot measures Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Idaho Legislature Passes Bill Aimed At Making Citizen Initiatives Harder To Get On Ballot

By NWPB News April 7, 2021

Amy Pratt personally collected more than 1,000 signatures to help get Proposition 2 on the ballot. It's the first time she's been politically active and she has no plans of stopping. CREDIT: JAMES DAWSON / BSPR

Legislation making it more difficult to get initiatives or referendums on ballots is heading to the governor, who has hinted of a possible veto. The House voted 51-18 on Wednesday to approve the measure backers said is needed because the current process favors urban voters. It passed the Senate 26-9 last month. Those numbers are enough to overcome a veto.Read More

Idaho Lawmakers Move Closer To Making It Harder To Get Initiatives On The Ballot

By NWPB News March 8, 2021

An Idaho House panel approved legislation Monday making it more difficult to get initiatives or referendums on ballots in what is widely seen as a rural vs. urban issue.Read More

In Historic Move, Colorado Voters Decide To Reintroduce Gray Wolves

By NPR News November 6, 2020

A gray wolf - wolves in Colorado - AP PHOTO

The move challenges a long tradition of leaving wildlife management to governments, not the public. But the vote was narrow, reflecting many people's serious concerns about bringing wolves back.Read More

Washington Supreme Court Unanimously Strikes Down I-976, Tim Eyman’s $30 Car Tab Initiative

By NWPB News October 15, 2020

Professional initiative sponsor Tim Eyman, right, holds a photo from his first successful $30 car tabs initiative in 1999. Eyman says he has collected almost enough signatures to qualify a 2019 car tabs rollback initiative to the 2019 Legislature. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS/N3

On Thursday, the state Supreme Court struck down Initiative 976, a measure Washington voters approved last November to reduce the cost of annual vehicle licensing fees. The measure has been on hold for nearly a year as legal challenges worked their way through the court system.Read More

U.S. Supreme Court Halts Online Signature Drive To Get Education Funding Measure On Idaho Ballot

By NWPB News July 30, 2020

In-person signature gathering efforts from Reclaim Idaho were put on ice during the coronavirus pandemic. CREDIT: Reclaim Idaho via Facebook

The U.S. Supreme Court has put a halt to the Reclaim Idaho K-12 initiative drive. Thursday’s ruling represents a legal victory for Gov. Brad Little and Secretary of State Lawerence Denney, who requested a stay of a lower court ruling allowing Reclaim Idaho to gather online signatures for its “Invest in Idaho” initiative. Read More

How And Will Idaho Schools Reopen? ‘I Think The Answer Is, It Depends,’ Governor Says

By NWPB News July 27, 2020

Idaho Gov. Brad Little speaks at a news conference in Boise on March 13. Less than four months after the state confirmed its first case of the coronavirus, it has emerged as one of the nation's biggest hot spots. Keith Ridler/AP

Gov. Brad Little still wants to see Idaho schools reopen next month — but he’s not sure that can happen in the state’s coronavirus hotspots. “I think the answer is, it depends,” Little said during a news conference Thursday morning, one day after the state reported its highest one-day death toll from the coronavirus outbreak.Read More

State And Governor Question Security Of Reclaim Idaho’s Signature Gathering For Education Initiative

By NWPB News July 21, 2020

It will be up to the Ninth Circuit to decide whether Reclaim Idaho can continue gathering online signatures in a final attempt to get its K-12 initiative on November’s ballot. Reclaim Idaho suspended face-to-face signature gathering on March 18 — a few days after the state reported its first cases of coronavirus.Read More

Idaho Asks U.S. Supreme Court To Block Signature Gathering For Education Funding Ballot Initiative

By NWPB News July 15, 2020

Idaho Gov. Brad Little wants the U.S. Supreme Court to stop Reclaim Idaho from gathering signatures online, as the group tries to get its education funding initiative on November’s ballot.Read More

A Presidential Year Without A Statewide Ballot Initiative: A First Since 1928 In Washington

By Austin Jenkins July 3, 2020

A review of Washington’s initiative history reveals that not since 1928 has the November ballot been bereft of an initiative to the people in a year when voters were electing a president. Read More

Idaho Advocacy Group Sues To Get More Time For Ballot Measure Signature Gathering

By Doug Nadvornick June 9, 2020

Idaho’s signature gathering window was interrupted in mid-March due to coronavirus restrictions. Now, Reclaim Idaho hopes to put a public school funding initiative on the November ballot by asking a federal judge for extra time to collect signatures.Read More

Judge: Tim Eyman Concealed More Than $750K In Campaign Contributions For Ballot Measures

By Austin Jenkins February 21, 2020

In November, anti-tax activist Tim Eyman announced he's running for governor. On Friday, Feb. 21, a Thurston County Judge found that Eyman has repeatedly concealed contributions related to his initiative campaigns. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

A judge has found that anti-tax activist and Republican candidate for governor Tim Eyman concealed more than $700,000 in campaign contributions related to his initiative work over a six-year period. The finding comes as Eyman mounts a first-ever run for public office and faces trial this summer over an alleged campaign finance kick-back scheme.Read More

Washington’s $30 Car Tabs Initiative On Hold, And Tim Eyman Calls For People Not To Pay Anything

By Tom Banse December 5, 2019

Initiative sponsor Tim Eyman spoke outside the Washington State Supreme Court on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Thursday was supposed to be the day that a Washington state ballot measure to lower car registration fees took effect. But the state Supreme Court has let an injunction stand against what is known as the $30 car tabs initiative. That means hundreds of thousands of drivers will get full price bills in the coming months that they thought they had voted to reduce.Read More

Washington’s $30 Car Tabs On Hold As Judge Puts Injunction On I-976 As Legal Challenge Unfolds

By NWPB News November 27, 2019

A King County Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that opponents had adequately argued that the measure's ballot title was misleading, and he issued an injunction. The challenge could eventually make its way to the state Supreme Court.Read More

Garfield County Is Washington’s Least Populous. It’s Joining A Suit To Stop I-976’s $30 Car Tabs

By NWPB News November 25, 2019

Garfield County Transportation Authority driver Gene Smith helps 96-year-old resident Louise Munday board a commuter bus on Nov. 15, 2019. Munday uses local transit five days a week and, with her limited mobility, the service to her door is necessary. CREDIT: Emily McCarty/Crosscut

As expected, the initiative’s passage prompted legal action, led by Seattle-area governments and public transit supporters protesting a projected $4.2 billion cut in revenue for transportation and transit projects over the next six years. But there has been an unexpected addition to that Puget Sound-centric group: the Garfield County Transportation Authority.Read More

Anti-Tax Ballot Initiative Sponsor Tim Eyman Says He Is Running For Governor Of Washington

By Austin Jenkins November 21, 2019

Eyman says his decision to run is motivated in part by legal efforts to overturn Initiative 976, his car tabs measure that voters just approved.Read More

AP: Washington Voters Appear To Narrowly Reject Effort To Bring Back Affirmative Action

By Austin Jenkins November 12, 2019

Affirmative action opponents demonstrate outside the Washington Senate on Sunday night following a vote to approve I-1000. AUSTIN JENKINS/N3

The Associated Press declared Referendum 88 rejected late Tuesday afternoon, one week after Election Day. Soon after, the pro-affirmative action Washington Fairness Coalition sent out a concession statement.Read More

Seattle And King County Will Sue To Block Initiative 976, The $30 Car Tab Measure

By NWPB News November 8, 2019

Sound Transit light rail train and tunnel in Seattle

If fully implemented, Initiative 976 would force the city to cut more than 100,000 bus hours and would hamper her program to provide free bus access for high school students and low-income residents, Seattle's mayor said in a news conference. She also emphasized that voters in King County, which is home to Seattle, firmly voted against the measure sponsored by Tim Eyman.Read More

Washington Voters Narrowly Rejecting Affirmative Action Law In Initial Returns

By Austin Jenkins November 5, 2019

As of Tuesday evening, Washington voters were narrowly voting to overturn a new affirmative action law. CREDIT: Washington Secretary of State

In a potential rejection of a vote earlier this year by state lawmakers, Washington voters on Tuesday evening were narrowly saying “no” to restoring affirmative action in the state.Read More

I-976, Washington’s $30 Car Tabs Measure From Tim Eyman, Passing As Of Tuesday Night

By NWPB News November 5, 2019

Sponsored by Tim Eyman, the measure would cap most taxes paid through annual vehicle registration at $30 and largely revoke the authority of state and local governments to add new taxes and fees without voter approval.Read More

Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Idaho Initiative Process

By NWPB News October 31, 2019

A federal lawsuit challenging Idaho's ballot initiative process as unconstitutional because it requires signatures from multiple legislative districts has been dismissed.Read More

Affirmative Action Returns To Washington Ballot — More Than 20 Years After Voters Rejected It

By Austin Jenkins October 7, 2019

In 1998, Washington voters overwhelmingly approved Initiative 200, which effectively ended affirmative action in the state. Now, 21 years later, voters this November will once again have a chance to weigh in on the issue. Read More

Washington Affirmative Action Campaign Sued For Not Paying Signature Gatherers

By Austin Jenkins September 17, 2019

Former Republican Gov. Dan Evans, right, and Nat Jackson, the sponsor of I-1000, enjoy an upbeat moment last January after turning in petitions to qualify the initiative to the Legislature.

According to Washington's Public Disclosure Commission, the One Washington Equality Campaign still has $1.3 million in outstanding debt.Read More

Judge Strikes Down Ballot Measure On Whale Watching Distance Rules In San Juan County

By Tom Banse August 19, 2019

Southern Resident orcas in the J pod made a rare 2019 appearance in inland waters on Thursday, August 15, near Lime Kiln State Park off of San Juan Island. (Image taken under the authority of NMFS permit No. 22141) MEGAN FARMER / KUOW

Whale watch tour companies have knocked a proposed orca protection initiative off the November ballot in San Juan County, Washington. The ballot measure would have asked voters to greatly increase the stand-off distance between boats and endangered killer whales.Read More

Idaho Group That Pushed For Medicaid Expansion Seeks Input On Citizen Initiatives

By Doug Nadvornick July 30, 2019

The group that sponsored Idaho’s successful Medicaid expansion initiative last year is now working on a new project. Reclaim Idaho is trying to preserve the rights of citizen groups to propose initiatives and collect signatures to put them on the ballot.Read More

Idaho Gov. Brad Little Signs Medicaid Expansion Bill With Work Requirements

By NWPB News April 9, 2019

Idaho Gov. Brad Little delivers his State of the State address inside the house chambers at the state Capitol building, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019 in Boise, Idaho. CREDIT: AP PHOTO/OTTO KITSINGER

Idaho will ask the federal government for permission to implement mandatory work requirements for those covered under the state’s Medicaid plan. Gov. Brad Little signed the bill despite concerns about the constitutionality of such requirements that were repeatedly brought up during public testimony and debates.Read More

Idaho Gov. Brad Little Vetoes Bill That Would Have Made Ballot Initiatives Tougher

By NWPB News April 5, 2019

In a rebuke to the Idaho legislature, Gov. Brad Little has “reluctantly” vetoed a bill that some say would’ve made it nearly impossible to get an initiative on the ballot. Little also plans to veto a second, similar bill that would’ve loosened some of the original proposal’s restrictions.Read More

Washington Anti-Tax Activist Tim Eyman Tries To Return The Office Chair He Is Accused Of Stealing

By Austin Jenkins February 22, 2019

In this file photo, Tim Eyman sits in a legislative committee hearing. AUSTIN JENKINS / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK

First, he was caught on store surveillance allegedly stealing a $70 office chair. Now Washington anti-tax activist Tim Eyman has produced his own video. It shows him returning to the scene of the alleged crime.Read More

Professional Initiative Sponsor Tim Eyman Is Back With Another Proposed $30 Car Tabs Measure

By Austin Jenkins November 14, 2018

Nearly 20 years after Washington voters passed Initiative 695, which repealed Washington's motor vehicle excise tax, anti-tax activist Tim Eyman says he's close to qualifying a new initiative to repeal taxes to support Sound Transit and restrict car tabs to $30. Read More

Washington’s I-1631 Is Latest In Long Line Of Attempts At Nation’s First-Ever Carbon Tax

By Ashley Ahearn November 5, 2018

Rancher Dave Creveling believes the cost of a new Washington state carbon fee would be passed along to rural people like him if voters approve it. CREDIT: ASHLEY AHEARN

Ballot Initiative 1631 is the latest in a string of failed legislative efforts in the state to charge polluters for the carbon they are emitting. This initiative is the first of its kind nationally because of the billions of dollars it would generate—and it's become one of the most expensive ballot initiative fights in Washington history.Read More

Latino Businesses Caught In Between ‘No’ And ‘Yes’ Campaigns Of Washington Carbon Tax Measure

By Esmy Jimenez October 31, 2018

Mary’s Boutique, owned by Mario Fuentes, in Yakima. According to a public list available on “No on 1631” Mary’s Boutique is listed as a business opposed to the carbon tax initiative. Fuentes says he never gave permission for his business to be published on that list and that he is in favor I-1631. CREDIT: ESMY JIMENZ/NWPB

Some Washington Latino-owned businesses say they were wrongly put on a list that claimed they were against I-1631, a state ballot initiative seeking to tax carbon emissions.Read More

Opponents Of Washington Carbon Fee Ballot Measure Break Initiative Fundraising Record

By NWPB News October 23, 2018

In this 2016, file photo, piles of wood chips sit near the RockTenn paper mill in Tacoma, Wash. Another ambitious effort to pass a carbon tax in Washington state has faltered as both Gov. Jay Inslee and the bill's prime sponsor conceded Thursday. CREDIT: TED S. WARREN, FILE / AP PHOTO

The campaign against a ballot measure creating a carbon pollution fee has set a fundraising record for statewide initiatives.Read More

Want Election Results? On West Coast, Patience Is Required

By NWPB News October 10, 2018

Ballot drop boxes are stored for future use in a warehouse area of the King County Elections office in Renton, Wash. While Washington is one of just three states that conduct all of their elections by mail, it's the only one of those three that allows ballots to be postmarked by election day. CREDIT: ELAINE THOMPSON

If control of the U.S. House comes down to any of the competitive congressional races in Washington and California, the nation might have to wait days to learn the outcome.Read More

Measure To Ban State Funding For Abortion Qualifies For Oregon Ballot

By Jeff Mapes July 27, 2018

The Oregon capital building CREDIT:CHRIS LEHMAN / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK

An initiative that would ban state funding for abortion is heading to the November ballot in Oregon, setting up an election battle over abortion in what has been regarded as one of the most pro-choice states in the country. Read More

Oregon Gun-Control Proposal Might Be Out Of Time To Make Ballot

By Dirk VanderHart June 27, 2018

File photo. Backers of a ban on semi-automatic, military-style weapons in Oregon hoped to win permission to start collecting signatures soon.

The Oregon Supreme Court announced June 27 it would not certify ballot language for Initiative Petition 43, a proposed ban on military-style semi-automatic weapons in Oregon. Instead, the court referred draft ballot language back to Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum for revision, finding substantial flaws in her office’s last attempt.Read More

After Late Hurdles, Oregon Gun Control Proposal Might Come Up Short

By Dirk VanderHart June 15, 2018

The Oregon Capitol building. CREDIT: CHRIS LEHMAN / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK

Three parties appealed proposed ballot language for Initiative Petition 44 to the Oregon Supreme Court. That means backers of the measure won’t be able to begin circulating petitions to land it on November's ballot for weeks, a potentially decisive blow.Read More

Concerned About Voting Security? Northwest Election Chiefs Say They Have Confidence

By Austin Jenkins March 29, 2018

Gus Clark deposits his vote-by-mail ballot in a collection box in Seattle in the 2016 election. CREDIT: TED S. WARREN/AP

Amid warnings that Russian hackers may try to interfere in the 2018 midterm elections, top election officials in the Northwest say they are taking additional steps to protect voting systems from attack.Read More

Washington Initiative Activist Tim Eyman Demands Public Vote On Police Deadly Force Law Change

By Tom Banse March 12, 2018

On the final day of the Washington legislative session last week, lawmakers passed a bill to make it easier to prosecute police for negligent shootings. It was a compromise agreed to by groups on all sides to keep a potentially divisive initiative off the November ballot.Read More

Eyman To File Another $30 Car Tabs Initiative, Would Repeal Sound Transit Taxes

By Austin Jenkins July 10, 2017

File photo. Professional initiative promoter Tim Eyman plans to file another $30 car tabs measure to the Washington state Legislature Tuesday. KEVIN MOONEY / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK Listen For Tim […]Read More