What are initiatives and referenda?
In Washington State voters are often asked to vote on initiatives and referenda. Both are ways to create laws directly by votes of the people, rather than through the legislative process. But they are slightly different. Initiatives are laws proposed by non-legislators – either individuals or groups of individuals. To get an idea on the ballot the sponsor or sponsors file their proposal with the Secretary of State and then gather signatures to qualify the proposed law to be placed on the ballot. Initiative 1033 is an example of this process. Referenda are laws passed by the State legislature which are then sent to a vote of the people to approve or reject. There are two types of referenda: • Referendum Measures are laws recently passed by the Legislature that are placed on the ballot because of petitions signed by voters. • Referendum Bills are proposed laws referred to the electorate by the Legislature. Referendum 71 is the first kind of referendum. The legislature passed the Domestic
